Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) is continuing to take action on the challenge of mental health, with a series of free workshops in the coming weeks.
TBA is teaming up with respected mental health educator, Pip Baker, to hold in-person workshops in Nagambie and Scone, while there will also be two webinars allowing people to participate from around the country.
The workshops follow on from the development of the Stud Staff Support Line (SSSA) – a free round the clock counselling service open to all within the breeding industry – which was launched at the end of 2021.
“The feedback we have had from farms is that issues around mental health continue to be a challenge in the workforce and this has only increased since the start of Covid,” said Tom Reilly, chief executive of TBA.
“The Stud Staff Support Line is something that any worker can access wherever they are in the country and allows them to speak to a clinical psychologist at any time, but we are also keen to support managers at farms and give them the skills to better handle issues as they arise, and that’s where the workshops will be beneficial.”
The workshops are being led by Pip Baker, who has also done work for Qantas, major construction company Roberts Co, and Winning Group Appliances.
She is also well versed in the thoroughbred industry, having previously hosted webinars for TBA and providing her services to a number of breeding businesses.
Ms Baker said: “Mental health problems continue to increase significantly. Early intervention and prevention strategies can help stem this tide and prevent problems from worsening.
“Wellbeing has become a big part of management post-pandemic and these workshops will give managers, supervisors and leaders on farms the tools to enable good wellbeing management of their staff.”
Some of the topics covered in the workshops include: avoiding burnout, signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression, effective feedback strategies, and the benefits of positive psychology and habit creation. Ms Baker will also discuss how farms can use the SSSL to help their staff.
Meanwhile TBA is continuing to raise awareness of the SSSL, with posters about the service being mailed to studs across Australia in the past week.
