We recognise that running a small business is a unique experience. It can be richly rewarding, but can also involve stress and pressure, coming from many directions. These pressures can affect your sleep, concentration and mental health, which in turn can greatly affect the longevity and success of your business.
That is why it is imperative to look after yourself, and if you employ staff, to have a strong focus on health and wellbeing and implement strategies toward building a healthy workplace culture. Healthy workplaces attract and retain high quality staff and provide a safe place for them to work and flourish.
When you look at the toolkit steps, take notice of the suggestion actions for small business.
We’ve put together a range of supports and services that are available to help you and your small business become safer, healthier and more sustainable for the future.
Supports
Healthy Workplaces Service
This Healthy Workplaces Service provides free information, resources and support to help you create a healthy, safe and thriving workplace. Register your workplace online and one of our Healthy Workplaces Advisors will contact you.
SafeWork SA Small Business Advisory Service
Access free information, support and practical advice to improve your systems, practices and general approach to workplace safety for everyone.
ReturnToWorkSA Mentally Healthy Workplaces Service
Access to free support and services to help you create a safe, productive and thriving workplace – with a particular emphasis on workplace mental health.
New Access for small business owners
A free and confidential mental health program, developed by Beyond Blue. You can access six sessions with a coach, working with you to overcome difficult issues, providing you with practical skills to manage stress, and get you back to feeling like yourself.
Small Business Debt Helpline
Access free, independent and confidential phone support from financial counsellors for small business struggling with their financial wellbeing.
Rural Business Advice
PIRSA works closely with Rural Business Support (RBS) to ensure the network of rural counsellors can respond to the range of financial and business challenges facing primary producers.
Family and Business Mentor (FaB)
A free service that can help primary producers or regionally-based agricultural business owners during difficult situations.
Resources and Information
National Workplace Initiative: Small Business Guides to Mentally Healthy Workplaces
The Small Business Guides to Mentally Healthy Workplaces provide information about key topics, clear examples, helpful tips and links to further support and guidance.
Head to Health
National mental health website for all Australians to find mental health and wellbeing services, information and resources.
Healthy Workplaces Toolkit
The toolkit provides a step-by-step guide to creating a healthy workplace. Take notice of the checklists which specify suggested actions for small business.
ReturnToWorkSA Mentally Healthy Workplaces Module
Along with a range of free tools and resources available for small businesses, the Mentally Healthy Workplaces free online course is a great starting point for workplaces to take action.
Simple steps to safety guide
Developed by SafeWork SA, this guide helps you to include work health and safety as part of your business planning. Use the online audit tool to help assess your current health and safety practices and to identify any areas which you can improve.
Healthy Workplaces self-audit tool
Developed by ReturnToWorkSA, it’s a tool for small businesses to work with a Healthy Workplaces Advisor to identify gaps and create a tailored action plan for your workplace.
Workplace Wellbeing Guide for Small Business
Business SA’s guide to developing a workplace wellbeing strategy that encourages self-care and embraces a culture that supports health, safety and wellbeing in your workplace.
Office for Small and Family Business Information
Provides a single destination for support and advice required to start, run and grow your business in South Australia.
Business Community Resilience Toolkit
Offered by the Office for Small and Family Business, this program is a free resource for all small business owners in the Upper Spencer Gulf and Limestone Coast region. This aims to help prepare businesses for natural disasters and unexpected events.
Mental health information for small business owners and sole traders
Developed by Beyond Blue, this is a webpage for small business on mental health and wellbeing information including challenges, resources on managing others, financial wellbeing, learning about symptoms and looking after yourself and further supports.
Ahead for Business
A digital hub for small businesses with tailored resources, peer support, check-ups, case studies and personalised action plans. Including the Rural Agribusiness Wellbeing Plan helping small business owners in rural and remote Australia take action on their mental health.
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Resources & Tool Centre
Business and non-business-related support for small businesses and sole traders including health and wellbeing.
Free e-learning course to support mental health for small businesses
Beyond Blue’s learning course designed to improve mental health and wellbeing literacy and educate advisers about how to have an empathetic conversation with small business owners.
Mindarma e-learning program
Mindarma is a ten-session e-learning program for small businesses to 'protect and empower every worker.' Designed to boost resilience and enhance mental wellbeing, it’s pro-active, practical and precisely adapted to meet the real needs of the business. Normally $99, Mindarma is now available free to owners and employees of small and family businesses in South Australia. As part of your free subscription, you can explore hundreds of expert-curated resources in Mindarma’s Brain Food continuous learning platform. You will also gain access to psychologist-led skills sessions and other special webinar events, available live or on demand. Register now to receive Mindarma free. Upon registration, you will also be able to invite others to join you.