In a statement, SuperFriend announced that the grant from the WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund – an initiative of the Victorian government – would go towards delivering the ‘Wellbeing on Call: Creating Thriving Contact Centres’ project.
SuperFriend, one among four other recipients who have received funding, will co-design mental health programs and resources for staff working in superannuation and insurance contact centres.
The mental health organisation’s chief executive Margo Lydon said SuperFriend aimed to reduce suicide and mental illness in Australian workers, and that the funding would go towards this purpose.
“Contact centre workers are often perceived as vulnerable and at risk of poor mental health due to the frontline nature of their jobs,” said SuperFriend chief executive Margo Lydon.
“How they engage and work with customers not only impacts the customer experience, but also their own mental health, safety and wellbeing.
“It is therefore vital that more attention is paid to increase the job satisfaction and job engagement of contact centre workers so their potential and wellbeing is maximised, and customer experience and other productivity metrics are achieved.”
The other four recipients of the WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund are The Victorian Arts Centre Trust, Gippsland Women’s Health and Wellington Primary Care Partnership, The Centre of Perinatal Excellence and Transitioning Well, and The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Victorian Minister for Finance Robin Scott expressed delight at the responses from organisations who submitted their ideas for improving the mental wellbeing of Victorians.
“These WorkWell programs that we funded are both innovative and sustainable, and will make a lasting difference to the lives of many Victorian workers,” he said in the statement.
