Managing Mental Health Issues in the Workplace

Fair, Safe & Defensible

Overview
A practical workshop for SME owners and managers that turns legislation into clear, usable steps. Learn how to recognise concerns early, open the right conversation, make reasonable adjustments, and document decisions so they’re compassionate, compliant, and defensible.

What you’ll learn

• Spotting factual warning signs (not diagnoses) and triaging risk.

• Conversation openers and boundaries—what to say, what to avoid, and when to escalate (EAP/GP, WHS).

• Reasonable adjustments that balance WHS duties with inherent role requirements.

• Clean documentation: notes, follow-ups, and review dates that protect people and the business.

• Navigating overlaps between health and performance using fair process.

Compliance
Fair Work Act (s.351 discrimination, s.352 temporary absence, s.65 flexible work), WHS Act (Qld) and Psychosocial Code of Practice 2022, Anti-Discrimination and Privacy obligations—scaled for small business realities.

Who should attend
Owners, people leaders, HR-in-SMEs and safety reps seeking a clear pathway to meet psychosocial risk duties while supporting staff well.

Why now
Psychosocial risk expectations have lifted; managers are expected to act early, fairly and with proper records. Leave with the words, steps and evidence that stand up to scrutiny—without turning managers into clinicians.