Aurecon’s Mind Matters programme takes top HR award

19 January 2016 - Aurecon was announced as the 2015 winner of the prestigious Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) Diversity Award for Mental Health in the Workplace at the Institute's awards ceremony held at the Convention Wharf in Sydney's Darling Harbour last month.

Aurecon's Mind Matters programme was recognised by AHRI's distinguished judging panel as the most outstanding industry contribution to improving awareness, attitudes and understanding of mental health issues among employees in the workplace and the wider community.

"It's a real honour to see our people's hard work developing, implementing and supporting the Mind Matters programme celebrated," said Aurecon's Australia and New Zealand Office Manager, Matt Coetzee, who accepted the award on the evening.

"We do, however, have a long way to go as a business so this award recognition is a challenge to us all to improve our efforts in this space.

"If I can make a simple request of each of you reading this article, it would be to please look around at each of your colleagues and clients and, if you notice something different, simply ask them how they are going. That small gesture may help them more than you could imagine, and set them on a path to improved mental wellbeing."

Aurecon's excellence developing and implementing gender equality initiatives and programmes was also recognised at the awards ceremony with the company celebrated as a finalist in the Gender Equity in the Workplace category.

Aurecon was shortlisted alongside distinguished companies including ANZ, Aurizon, KPMG, Monash University and the GPT Group with Aurizon taking top honours for the second year running.

About Mind Matters

Launched in mid-2015 in Aurecon's Australia and New, Zealand region, Mind Matters focuses on two key aims: providing mental health awareness education to all staff and educating Line Managers to identify and directly support mental health issues in others.

At the heart of the programme is the integration of Mental Health First Aid Officers into the business. Research into leading practice for mental health revealed that on-the-ground support would have the most significant and positive impact for Line Managers and their staff.

The success of Mind Matters is measured through Aurecon's annual staff Safety Leadership Index survey that includes indicators on the level of confidence for where managers and staff can go for support, as well as confidence in intervening to support others with mental health concerns.