Team leaders can be a protective factor for wellbeing, or they can cause harm.
Designed for team leaders in emergency service organisations, Leading for Better Mental Health is an evidence informed program that takes an action learning approach to help shape participant’s ability to create and sustain psychologically safe workplace environments.
This is no ordinary development program. With an action learning focus it is underpinned by the wisdom that we hear, and we forget but when we practice, we understand.
Working with people from a range of agencies has been shown to provide a rich learning experience that provides a unique opportunity for team leaders to consider how the significant mental health challenges confronting people, organisations and the sector be addressed.
With the support of the State Government’s Emergency Responder Mental Health Program ESF can offer three Leading for Better Mental Health Programs in 2025 at no cost to ESF’s member agencies.
2025 Program Dates
Leading for Better Mental Health was a pilot program that ran from March 2021 to February 2022 with support from WorkSafe WorkWell.
It was an innovative learning approach to leadership development that was evidence-based and co-designed by the Learning Network. The program helped team leaders:
- understand workplace risk factors
- recognise their impact on others
- confidently lead with a focus on creating a mentally health workplace
The pilot was trialled in two phases:
- a multi-agency pilot (online and face to face) that ran every few weeks over eight months with 52 participants from 12 emergency management organisations.
- a single-agency pilot for 25 DEWLP team leaders that ran in two, two-day blocks spaced three months apart with coaching in between.
In partnership with the Charles Sturt University Workforce Wellness Research unit, the pilot was evaluated for quality, content and delivery as well as the difference it makes to leaders and their teams. The multiagency and single-agency evaluation reports found the program is a highly effective early-intervention program for workplace mental health.
An executive summary of the two modes of pilot delivery can be found here
Not another training program
There are 4 main features that set Leading for Better Mental Health apart and geared it for success.
- It takes a sector wide approach that brings staff and volunteers together from different agencies. This has never been done before
- It uses mentoring, coaching and peer-to-peer reflection to develop personal insight and test new leadership approaches
- It is skill-based and practical, with an emphasis on application in the workplace. The program provides time and space to reflect on new ways of leading. Learnings are practical and will be directly applied in the workplace
- It will bring CEOs into the conversation with team leaders about barriers to leading for better mental health so systematic change can happen.
Methodology
In 2020, the ESF Learning Network engaged in conversations and data gathering about barriers and enablers to positive mental health and wellbeing for staff and volunteers in the emergency management sector.
Members of the Learning Network determined that improving how leaders are developed – not executives but specifically people who lead teams – will address a range of workplace risk factors. After all team leaders have the most direct influence on the day-to-day experience of people in the workplace.
The Learning Network saw an opportunity to drive innovation and consistency for sector-wide impact by working collaboratively on this shared challenge.
Using the method of co-design, the Learning Network developed a pilot for leaders working in emergency services. This program was informed by a review of best practice, a scan of current leadership and mental health training programs. We also listened to team leaders, they told us they were often promoted from task-oriented roles and felt ill-prepared to lead and nurture mentally healthy work environments.
ESF acknowledges the support of the Victoria State Government in the development and running of Leading for Better Mental Health.
