❓ Details employee support programs within DPIRD, including program descriptions, availability dates, usage statistics, staffing, and budget. Reveals a decrease in dedicated support staff and the discontinuation of one program.
AnsweredQoN 5709Legislative Assembly
Asked
30 October 2019
Member
Portfolio
Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Ports; Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to employee support and assistance programs offered to Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) staff, and I ask: (a) Please list and describe support and assistance programs available, both internally and externally, to staff across the department; (b) Please provide the dates each of these programs was first made available to staff; (c) Are there any support programs previously available that are now no longer open for staff to use: (i) If yes, please list them; (d) Please show the FTE and headcount for internal DPIRD staff working in support and assistance roles including Peer Support Officers, Contact Officers and Gatekeepers in: (i) 2016-17; (ii) 2017-18; (iii) 2018-19; and (iv) 2019-20 to date; (e) For all support programs that are or were available, please list the number of staff that accessed them and the number of sessions conducted over the same time periods listed in (d); and (f) What has the DPIRD budget allocation and actual budget spend been for employee support and assistance programs over the same time periods listed in (d)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 February 2020
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Ports; Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade
Response time
9 days
(a)
Program Name
Description
Online Learning Programs:
Approaching an employee you’re concerned about
An online training module to assist managers to address a common workplace scenario around employee wellbeing.
Developing Resilience
An online training module to help staff increase their level of resilience.
Managing Mental Health Risks at Work
An online training module to help staff assess common workplace scenarios that can impact the mental health of employees.
Development Workshops:
Building Resilience
Workshops to provide simple tips and strategies to help improve and strengthen physical, mental, emotional and social resilience for all staff during the organisational restructure. These workshops are an additional supplement to the online training module.
Mental Health First Aid
Training sessions provided to the Employee Support Network and additional staff to learn how to provide mental health first aid.
Employee Support Network - Development
Development sessions are provided to help train new and existing Employee Support Network volunteer staff.
Assistance Programs:
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
An independent, professional and confidential counselling service program available to staff, managers and their family members.
EAP Onsite Wellness Checks
In addition to the EAP, Onsite Wellness Checks were scheduled across the state to assist staff during the organisational restructure.
Employee Support Network
The Employee Support Network is comprised of volunteer trained staff to provide staff with mental health support and assistance in resolving workplace conflict. (Includes former agency Peer Support Officers, Contact Officers, Grievance Officers and Gatekeepers).
Mental Health Check-In
A supplementary online wellbeing check-in initiative to the existing EAP services to help support and maintain staff wellbeing during the organisational restructure.
(b)
Program Name
Date First Available
Online Learning Programs:
Approaching an employee you’re concerned about
May 2018
Developing Resilience
May 2017
Managing Mental Health Risks at Work
May 2018
Development Workshops:
Building Resilience Workshops
August 2017
Mental Health First Aid
October 2016
Employee Support Network - Development
September 2016
Assistance Programs:
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Prior 2016
EAP Onsite Wellness Checks
July 2019
Employee Support Network
May 2018
Mental Health Check-In
October 2016
(c)(i) Mental Health Check In. This program was a once off initiative, using proprietary tools for a former EAPs provider, in response to specific circumstances at the time. The former provider no longer exists, and as such the proprietary tool is no longer available.
(d) (i) 49
(ii) 31
(iii) 29
(iv) 25 *
Note, these are voluntary roles undertaken as part of an existing position.
* In addition, there are staff within the People and Culture function who, as part of their role, coordinate the delivery of employee support and assistance programs. Current People and Culture resources supporting employee support and assistance programs includes 4 FTE.
(e)
Date
Program Name
No. Staff Accessed
No. Sessions
(i) 2016-17
Developing Resilience
13
Online
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
111
215
Employee Support Network - Development
35
3
Mental Health Check-In
484
1
Mental Health First Aid
5
1
(ii) 2017-18
Approaching an employee you’re concerned about
11
Online
Developing Resilience
18
Online
Managing Mental Health Risks at Work
10
Online
Building Resilience Workshops
163
8
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
128
396
Employee Support Network - Development
70
5
Mental Health Check-In
27
1
Mental Health First Aid
12
1
(iii) 2018-19
Approaching an employee you’re concerned about
15
Online
Developing Resilience
19
Online
Managing Mental Health Risks at Work
10
Online
Building Resilience Workshops
156
14
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
110
369
Employee Support Network - Development
19
1
Mental Health First Aid
13
1
(iv) 2019-20 to date
Approaching an employee you’re concerned about
6
Online
Managing Mental Health Risks at Work
4
Online
Developing Resilience
5
Online
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
53
114
EAP Onsite Wellness Checks
112
76
(f)
Date
Program
Budget
Actual Spend
(i) 2016-17
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
$66,000.00
$66,234.90
Employee Support Network - Development
$10,000.00
$4,225.00
Mental Health First Aid
$ -
$7,492.00
(ii) 2017-18
Building Resilience Workshops
$ -
$12,500.00
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
$91,000.00
$77,249.25
Employee Support Network - Development
$10,000.00
$5,500.00
Mental Health First Aid
$ -
$404.55
Mental Health Check-In
$26,895.00
$10,606.00
(iii) 2018-19
Building Resilience Workshops
$11,000.00
$6,184.18
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
$80,000.00
$61,650.17
Employee Support Network - Development
$40,000.00
$2,000.00
Mental Health First Aid
$9,000.00
$6,500.00
(iv) 2019-20 to date
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
(Includes EAP Onsite Wellness Checks)
$80,000.00
$194,069.13 *
* The overspend in EAP for 2019-2020 is due to onsite wellness checks conducted in the second half of 2019, to support employees during an organisational change being undertaken in 2019. A total of 112 staff accessed the initiative. This included a total of 23 metropolitan and 53 regional sessions.
Program Name
Description
Online Learning Programs:
Approaching an employee you’re concerned about
An online training module to assist managers to address a common workplace scenario around employee wellbeing.
Developing Resilience
An online training module to help staff increase their level of resilience.
Managing Mental Health Risks at Work
An online training module to help staff assess common workplace scenarios that can impact the mental health of employees.
Development Workshops:
Building Resilience
Workshops to provide simple tips and strategies to help improve and strengthen physical, mental, emotional and social resilience for all staff during the organisational restructure. These workshops are an additional supplement to the online training module.
Mental Health First Aid
Training sessions provided to the Employee Support Network and additional staff to learn how to provide mental health first aid.
Employee Support Network - Development
Development sessions are provided to help train new and existing Employee Support Network volunteer staff.
Assistance Programs:
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
An independent, professional and confidential counselling service program available to staff, managers and their family members.
EAP Onsite Wellness Checks
In addition to the EAP, Onsite Wellness Checks were scheduled across the state to assist staff during the organisational restructure.
Employee Support Network
The Employee Support Network is comprised of volunteer trained staff to provide staff with mental health support and assistance in resolving workplace conflict. (Includes former agency Peer Support Officers, Contact Officers, Grievance Officers and Gatekeepers).
Mental Health Check-In
A supplementary online wellbeing check-in initiative to the existing EAP services to help support and maintain staff wellbeing during the organisational restructure.
(b)
Program Name
Date First Available
Online Learning Programs:
Approaching an employee you’re concerned about
May 2018
Developing Resilience
May 2017
Managing Mental Health Risks at Work
May 2018
Development Workshops:
Building Resilience Workshops
August 2017
Mental Health First Aid
October 2016
Employee Support Network - Development
September 2016
Assistance Programs:
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Prior 2016
EAP Onsite Wellness Checks
July 2019
Employee Support Network
May 2018
Mental Health Check-In
October 2016
(c)(i) Mental Health Check In. This program was a once off initiative, using proprietary tools for a former EAPs provider, in response to specific circumstances at the time. The former provider no longer exists, and as such the proprietary tool is no longer available.
(d) (i) 49
(ii) 31
(iii) 29
(iv) 25 *
Note, these are voluntary roles undertaken as part of an existing position.
* In addition, there are staff within the People and Culture function who, as part of their role, coordinate the delivery of employee support and assistance programs. Current People and Culture resources supporting employee support and assistance programs includes 4 FTE.
(e)
Date
Program Name
No. Staff Accessed
No. Sessions
(i) 2016-17
Developing Resilience
13
Online
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
111
215
Employee Support Network - Development
35
3
Mental Health Check-In
484
1
Mental Health First Aid
5
1
(ii) 2017-18
Approaching an employee you’re concerned about
11
Online
Developing Resilience
18
Online
Managing Mental Health Risks at Work
10
Online
Building Resilience Workshops
163
8
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
128
396
Employee Support Network - Development
70
5
Mental Health Check-In
27
1
Mental Health First Aid
12
1
(iii) 2018-19
Approaching an employee you’re concerned about
15
Online
Developing Resilience
19
Online
Managing Mental Health Risks at Work
10
Online
Building Resilience Workshops
156
14
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
110
369
Employee Support Network - Development
19
1
Mental Health First Aid
13
1
(iv) 2019-20 to date
Approaching an employee you’re concerned about
6
Online
Managing Mental Health Risks at Work
4
Online
Developing Resilience
5
Online
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
53
114
EAP Onsite Wellness Checks
112
76
(f)
Date
Program
Budget
Actual Spend
(i) 2016-17
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
$66,000.00
$66,234.90
Employee Support Network - Development
$10,000.00
$4,225.00
Mental Health First Aid
$ -
$7,492.00
(ii) 2017-18
Building Resilience Workshops
$ -
$12,500.00
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
$91,000.00
$77,249.25
Employee Support Network - Development
$10,000.00
$5,500.00
Mental Health First Aid
$ -
$404.55
Mental Health Check-In
$26,895.00
$10,606.00
(iii) 2018-19
Building Resilience Workshops
$11,000.00
$6,184.18
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
$80,000.00
$61,650.17
Employee Support Network - Development
$40,000.00
$2,000.00
Mental Health First Aid
$9,000.00
$6,500.00
(iv) 2019-20 to date
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
(Includes EAP Onsite Wellness Checks)
$80,000.00
$194,069.13 *
* The overspend in EAP for 2019-2020 is due to onsite wellness checks conducted in the second half of 2019, to support employees during an organisational change being undertaken in 2019. A total of 112 staff accessed the initiative. This included a total of 23 metropolitan and 53 regional sessions.
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