10/06/2022

On 12 of May 2022, Ms Renada Lee from SuperFriend, presented at the SA Workplace Mental Health Collaboration Group meeting about the 2021 National Report on Indicators of a Thriving Workplace.

The presentation highlighted South Australia’s thriving workplace score and key findings from the report. Each year, data is collected to measure and track the current state of workplace mental health across Australia. Information regarding the 40 indicators of a thriving workforce is collected and distributed across the following five domains:

  • Connectedness
  • Culture
  • Capability
  • Leadership
  • Policy.

What is a Thriving workplace?

Thriving workplaces are mentally healthy workplaces where people are safe, can bring their best self and do good work that contributes to a better business. Scores of 80/100 indicate a thriving workplace. When workplaces are thriving there are many benefits for both individual workers and the workplace as a whole.

National score

The national thriving workplace score increased from 65.1 in 2020 to 65.6 – not even a prolonged pandemic could stop Australia’s workplaces from improving! However, most workplaces are still a long way from thriving.

How did South Australia perform?

South Australia ranked #3 out of all states and territories in Australia, with an overall thriving workplace score of 65.3/100 (0.4 point increase). This is the state’s best performance to date, with regional workplaces ahead of those in Adelaide (66.0 vs 65.2 respectively).

Key workplace successes:

  • South Australian workers have more access to mental health education and confidential support services, and also reported their workplace having a good mental health policy.

Main workplace challenges in South Australia:

  • Results showed fewer leaders are providing constructive feedback to their teams or rewarding good work, and there is less focus on creating a sense of team cohesion.
  • Consequently, workplace culture has been affected resulting in lower motivation and workers less committed to staying with their current workplace long-term.

Watch the presentation: