MENTAL WELLNESS SUPPORT
1. INTRODUCTION
Castle Hill RSL Club Ltd (CHRG) is committed to establishing, promoting, and maintaining the mental wellness of our team through workplace practices and encouraging our team to take responsibility for their own mental health and wellbeing.
Where team members require additional support, CHRG provides a range of initiatives, including:
• Access to free counselling via our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Access to wellness rebates via our Connect+ Program.
• Access to financial support for mental wellness via our Mental Wellness Support Program.
For more information about the EAP and wellness rebates refer to the Connect+ Policy and Employee Assistance Program Policy and contact the People team if you have any questions or requirements of these programs.
2. SEEKING HELP
When seeking help regarding a mental health issue, a general practitioner (GP) doctor is usually the best starting point. Team members can also contact several organisations in Australia who provide free support and education for people experiencing mental health issues. The table below sets out some of the key support organisations and their contact details:
CHRG also has a number of designated and trained Mental Health First Aid Officers available to support our team members.
3. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
CHRG recognises that our team may need financial assistance from time to time to support their mental wellness journey and has several support options available.
3.1. Leave Entitlements
Team members experiencing mental health issues that are not work related are eligible to access accrued leave in accordance with our Employee Leave Policy.
If the mental health issues are work related, an incident must be reported, and the team member will be financially supported in accordance with our Injury Management and Return to Work Procedure
3.2. Mental Wellness Rebates
Where team members have sought out medical assistance from a GP and have been placed on a mental health treatment plan, CHRG will assist by providing a mental wellness rebate to help cover the ‘gap’ between Medicare payments and the cost of treatment, up to $50 per session, for up to 10 sessions.
To access this rebate, team members will need to provide a copy of their plan, or a letter from their GP stating they have been placed on a mental health treatment plan and provide evidence of out-of-pocket costs. Team members will then be provided a rebate via an expense claim.
Any details provided regarding the mental health plan will remain confidential and will not be placed on the team member’s personnel file.
3.3. Connect+ Care Foundation
Where team members have exhausted the above financial assistance options, they may apply to the People and Purpose team to access the Connect+ Care Foundation. As this foundation is supported by donations from team members across the Group, access may be limited to the funds available at the time of the request.
4. RETURN TO WORK
Where there has been an absence from the workplace due to mental health issues team members will be supported in accordance with our Injury Management and Return to Work Procedure
5. BREACH OF THIS POLICY
Breaches of this policy may result in counselling and or disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
6. REVIEW OF THIS POLICY
This policy will be reviewed every two years to ensure it remains consistent with all relevant legislative requirements, as well as the changing nature of the company or more frequently where legislative requirements are changed or amended.
7. POLICY COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION
This policy will be stored on CHRG’s intranet site. It will be incorporated into induction/onboarding programs and CHRG will conduct education sessions on the application and operation of this policy as required and when any changes to the policy are implemented.
8. DOCUMENT HISTORY
Prepared by: Approved by: Date: Version: Comments
Alison Brinkman Head of People & Purpose
David O’Neil Group CEO 1/09/2024 1.0 First issue