Large employers: Corporate Mental Health Alliance Australia

Leaders from some of Australia’s largest employers – law firms, global consultancies, banks, retailers and insurers – were drawn together by a common concern about workplace mental health. SafeWork Australia statistics showed 92% of work-related mental health condition claims could be attributed to factors like work pressures, harassment and stress in the workplace. 

The Corporate Mental Health Alliance Australia launched in 2019. Early activities include: 

• appointing expert advisors to guide its agenda 
• sharing challenges and current approaches 
• identifying key focus areas, e.g. membership, leadership, use of data, psychosocial risks at work 
• collecting leaders’ stories and personal reflection on mental health at work.  

“Those personal reflections were people prepared to talk about their own experiences, whether it was with family members, themselves, employees. The power of that story telling cannot be overestimated.”

Mel Upton, Corporate Mental Health Alliance Australia Director 

The CMHAA doesn’t see itself as simply serving its members: everything they learn is freely available through their website and events.  

The CMHAA has this advice for others: 

• Engage openly and collegially. Some CMHAA members are direct competitors, but the non-judgemental atmosphere fosters honest and helpful conversations and collaboration.  
• Remember it’s okay to fail. It’s part of learning, refining and stretching yourself as a group.  
• Be clear about who you will collaborate with and why. Understanding your goals and values helps you decide on collaborations.