Finalist Excellence in Mental Health and Wellbeing Ambulance Victoria Mental Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2022 – 2025

Ambulance Victoria

Team: Danielle North, Dr Megan Dobbie, Gina Mammone ESM, Sophie Barrett, Ruth Dale

Ambulance Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing

Action Plan 2022-2025 (MHWAP) provides an invaluable framework and holistic approach for how Ambulance Victoria (AV) embeds mental health and wellbeing into all undertakings within the organisation. It cares for and safeguards all AV employees, first responders and their families through the cumulative support of knowledge building, tools and services which are indispensable in managing their mental health and wellbeing.

AV’s goals were to realise a workforce supported to protect wellbeing and to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all our people.

To accomplish this, we needed a gold standard program addressing staff wellbeing. The strategic development and implementation of the MHWAP draws on previous plans and analysis, and aligns with support to address increasing risks of mental ill-health and injury within the organisation.

The MHWAP’s development followed extensive consultation, including interview and focus groups with AV’s people and family members, union representatives, trusted mental health partners, and the Victorian Ambulance Clinicians’ Unit (VACU).

We undertook rigorous analysis of AV’s Independent Psychosocial and People Matter survey data, conducted an external research review, and considered recommendations from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) Review into Workplace Equality in Ambulance Victoria. This enabled AV to develop a contemporary, evidence-based plan aligned to the specific needs of AV’s people and the risks identified. The resulting MHWAP centred around four pillars: Prevention and Education, Early Intervention, Building on Strengths, and Partnering for Success.