Industry group backs new beyondblue campaign and is also taking steps to help smaller companies.
The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) has welcomed the launch of a mental health campaign focused on the transport industry, saying more needs to be done to support small operators.
VTA CEO Neil Chambers says mental health advocacy group beyondblue’s initiative that gives the transport and warehousing industry practical advice about the importance of addressing mental health in the workplace is needed.
The VTA will lobby for an industry-wide employee assistance program at its state conference in Creswick next week to support smaller companies in need, he adds.
“The VTA supports the work of beyondblue and other organisations that provide counselling and supports services for stress and mental health conditions,” Chambers says.
“At the VTA conference you will hear a presentation on work we are conducting with our supplier partner Work Options to consider the establishment of an industry-wide employee assistance program to provide support, counselling and awareness support services.
“Our efforts are to see if there is an opportunity to establish such a service for those companies in the industry that don’t have their own support programs for employees and workers.”
Melbourne’s Monash Freeway was brought to a standstill this morning when a truck driver believed to be mentally disturbed had a suspicious device strapped to his head whilst driving in the opposite direction.
The 35-year-old was arrested and taken to The Alfred hospital for assessment.