Area of focus
To make the best use out of each initiative, we would like to encourage thinking about your initiative under the lens of an integrated framework.
Each program or initiative can fall under one of the following phases / areas of focus:
Promotion: activities that improve awareness, connection, discussion on the topic of mental wellness, as well as initiatives include in your program
Support: this is the type of programs that once activated can actively support addressing mental health conditions, call for action or combat stigma related to mental health.
Protection: this is the prevention and ongoing support measures, that through promotion and support, maintain the wellness your community achieved from your program.
Social connections
Social connections programs refer to programs that either initiate or strengthening social bonds, emotional connectedness and meaningful relationships in your community. Conclusively, strong social connections improve feelings of happiness, purposes and belonging for the community. Strong social connections also promote safe discussion space for members of your community. Some examples of such initiatives can be:
- Door knock connect programs
- Walking groups
- Open house – meet and greet programs
Low level of investment required.
Social connections program can be organised and maintained with relatively low level of resources, and can be suitable for chambers of all sizes.
Example 1: Door knockers in Redcliffe
The Assisting Communities through Direct Connection (ACDC) project is run by Community Mental Health Australia in Redcliffe. Of 494 people who engaged with the program in 2021, 39% responded they currently had or were living with mental health issues.
Similar programs have been run by Chambers in Kingaroy, Redlands, Sunshine Coasts, with a focus on checking in businesses in the area.
Example 2: Monthly Meet and Greet in Kingaroy
On a monthly basis, Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry host a meet and greet session. In these session, they invite local businesses, local council or other stakeholders to greet the community.
These are good opportunities to introduce a mental health local provider to your community, or gather businesses around to meet someone who are interested in this space!
Chamber tip: Do what you can and what you’re comfortable with!
The idea of social connections is to foster a sense of community, as well as reaching out to your local businesses.
As such, whatever you do does not have to be a structured program. Do what you feel would be most appropriate for your community. Do what you can! Do not let them to be a chore or a burden to your chamber activities!
Events
Organising events that focus on and prioritise mental health can be a great way to initiate conversations about mental health and wellbeing in your community. While mental health can be a daunting topic for some, an event that focuses on being conversational, collaborative, sharing and informing can be the right start to help businesses open up and sharing their mental health journey.
Typically, these events can be a breakfast, a workshop or a launch events to call businesses to action.
Investment required
Moderate level of investment required.
Wellness events normally requires higher costs of organizing and higher level of commitment from chambers.
Ideally, events should involve participation from at least one service provider or a professional mental health expert.
Example 1: Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce
Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce runs several events with a focus on mental health and wellbeing. For example:
- Business Leaders Mental Health Workshop: this is an introductory event fully endorsed by Mental Health First Aid Australia, focus on business leaders that are concerned about their own or others mental health.
- Tell Me More – Men’s Mental Health Event: this is a tickted event, part of an initiative of Future Leaders Advisory Group, with panel discussion on the importance of speaking up about mental health.
Example 2: Redlands Chamber of Commerce
Redlands Chamber of Commerce, as part of their connected business breakfast series, used this occasion to champion mental health practice in their communities. These events have guest speakers from local mental health service providers in the region.
Education and Training
A business-to-business training initiative can support businesses to recognise and respond to mental health stressors in their operations. It is important to note that chambers do not have to take the role of a mental health professional. Instead, chambers can play the facilitating role to inform their community, as well as connecting professional help to businesses that may not have the resource and time to do so.
What chambers can do for businesses:
- Facilitate the conversations of mental health and wellbeing in your community
- Promote training resources for businesses
- Promote workplace programs and training for businesses
- Represent businesses in your community to contact mental health providers
- Facilitate learning workshops in your community.
Investment required
Moderate level of investment required.
Education and training normally requires higher level of commitment from chambers, and ideally require help from a service provider.
Tip from Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce:
Prioritise the business aspects of your contribution. Rely on other resources available and the professional service to delivery the training programs. Your role can be to promote, distribute and enhance the education and training in your community.
Heads Up
They provide free online resources to promote understanding of mental health in the workplace.
More information here.
NICL training by KCCI
Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce engaged Bunyarra Counselling to deliver education through their Noticing, Inquiring, Connecting and Linking program.
This initiative funded 2 people form each KCCI member to do the NCIL training. For more information of this program, refers to the Case Studies.
Establishing support programs
By representing businesses in your region, your chamber can reach out to local service providers to establish mental health and wellness program in your local business community.
A couple of things to note:
- The key of support is a professional service provider in your local area.
While a chamber of commerce can be a strong advocate and supporter of mental health and wellness in your community, it is not expected of a chamber to provide professional mental help. This includes services such as assessment, de-escalation of critical situations, or provide long term support to businesses.
It is best for chambers to reach out to a local provider to conduct these services. For more tips on connecting, please refer back to section 1.
As such, it can be a long process to find the right partner for your community.
Finally, support programs can be demanding, and may require further funding. We recommend talking to your wider community, local government and other chambers to find the appropriate support before committing to any support program.
Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce Tip: We spent a lot of time trying to get as many providers involved as possible. But after that, we came to the realisation that there was only a small amount of providers can really commit and wanted to be involved. The tip is, engage with someone that wants to engage and invest their time into helping. You don’t have to engage everyone/ every single service providers.
Caloundra Chamber of Commerce Tip: It’s a long burn. You're not going to have impact overnight, so don't expect for it to be a one week blast and that's it.
Investment required
High level of investment required
Support programs tend require high level of attention and commitment from chambers. Chambers should explore other programs before committing to a structured support program.
