We are delighted to share The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care has announced $1.36 million to fund Transitioning Well to develop and deliver digital resources to assist owners and operators of small businesses to support the mental health and wellbeing of employees who are new parents or are expecting a baby.

This will directly help the 1 in 5 new mothers and 1 in 10 new fathers who suffer from postnatal depression and anxiety. The data shows that perinatal depression and anxiety costs an estimated $640 million every year through absenteeism, lost productivity, turnover and time off to care for family members. 

We commend the Australian Government for building on its commitment to support the mental health and wellbeing of expectant and new parents by investing $16.6 million into nine new projects as part of the Perinatal Mental Health and Wellbeing Program. Their recognition of the importance of supporting small businesses is imperative. Without this funding, small businesses would not have access to programs such as the Perinatal Workplace Wellbeing Program (PWWP). 

We congratulate our program partners COPE: Centre of Perinatal Excellence, PRACADEMIA and the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), and fellow recipients of this grant Karitane, University of Newcastle, COPE: Centre of Perinatal Excellence, Possums & Co. for Mothers and Babies; Western Sydney University; Gidget Foundation Australia and Murdoch University for their innovative projects that address the gaps in perinatal mental health service delivery, education and training nationally. 

To find out more about the current Perinatal Workplace Wellbeing Program (PWWP) funded by WorkSafe Victoria’s WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund, visit our website and to register your workplace or interest in the program, sign-up here.

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