Mental health and wellbeing is an essential topic for all managers and leaders to understand, especially in today’s challenging times. Becoming familiar with not only your responsibilities but also on how you take action is vital in fulfilling your role and in helping you maintain your team’s effectiveness and cohesiveness.

Content
  • What is meant by the terms ‘mental health’ and ‘mental illness’.
  • Understand how mental health issues can impact on workplace behaviour.
  • Planning and conducting conversations about mental health.
  • Managing performance concerns.
  • Understanding stress.
  • Individual/team/organisational strategies to reduce stress and build resilience.
Outcomes
  • Understand the common experience of mental health concerns.
  • Understand organisational/managerial obligations in managing mental health.
  • Have a framework to discuss mental health concerns.
  • Feel confident in running a meeting to discuss mental health concerns.
  • Develop an individual action plan to manage stress.
Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for anyone who is currently in a management or supervisory role.

Benefits to You and Your Organisation
  • Early intervention where mental health impacts performance.
  • Skills building for managers.
  • Improvements in team cohesion & communication.
  • Increase psychological wellbeing in the workplace which increases productivity and decreases absenteeism.
  • Provides employees with wellbeing tools that help meet duty of care obligations under WH&S policies.
  • Return on investment in mental health initiatives in organisations has been estimated to be $2.30 for every $1 invested.
  • With around 20% of Australians experiencing mental health difficulties in any year, managing wellbeing is a critically important topic for organisations and leaders.

Learn about our speakers

Samantha Young M.Psych. (Clin.), M.B.A, B.A. (Hons.), MAPS, GAICD

Co-Founder Humn / Clinical Psychologist
Humn

Samantha brings a unique combination of senior management and commercial experience, psychological intervention skills and Masters-level formal education in both business and psychology to her clinical, training, coaching and consulting work. Sam has delivered training for IPAA for over ten years with consistently positive participant feedback and is a sought after facilitator and keynote speaker, working with hundreds of employees and managers every year. The 21st Manager series designed by Sam in conjunction with IPAA incorporates the latest in psychological research, leadership theory and neuroscience and is now in its tenth year.

Samantha has worked as a Consultant with Boston Consulting Group, Sales & Marketing Manager for The Body Shop and Strategy Manager for Myer GraceBros. Samantha holds Bachelor and Postgraduate qualifications in business and psychology, including a Master Degree in Clinical Psychology and an MBA from Melbourne University. Samantha has completed the Company Director’s Course and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society.

Samantha was until recently CEO of Human Psychology, one of Adelaide’s largest psychological services providers, and is now co-Founder of Humn, a global movement redefining workplace mental health, where genuine care meets innovative leadership through psychosocial safety certification. Humn's mission is to safeguard wellbeing in every workplace. Samantha has extensive experience consulting to the SA public sector over nearly two decades and she is able to share real world scenarios to make workshops practical, applied and engaging.

Upcoming course availability

Online

October 2025

Wednesday, 29 October 2025

Format
Online

Duration
1 half day 9:00am-12:30pm (8:45am registration)

Competency framework
First Line Manager Common (ASO3-ASO5)
Middle Manager Core (ASO6-ASO8)

(this competency framework is provided as a guide only)

Inclusions
Digital Workbook and Resources

Location
Online via Microsoft Teams
(not sure if this platform is suitable for you? Contact us and one of our friendly team will arrange a test session for you - there are options to suit everyone)

Costs
Personal Member $290
State Govt Employee Member $330
Corporate Member $340
Non-member $365

This course can be delivered In-Agency. Contact us to discuss the delivery of this course within your department.

This course is part of the 21st Century Manager series (Online). Register for the full series and save up to 10%.

The 21st Century Manager series is comprised of 6 half-day units that address core management competencies:

  • Authentic Leadership Skills for Managers
  • Managing Wellbeing
  • Ethics in Action – Leadership Practices for the Public Sector
  • Managing Different Personalities
  • Leadership Communication Skills
  • Positive Psychology for Managers (PERMA+)

  • “[I gained] greater understanding of mental illness. How to manage this issue sensitively and positively.”

    A

  • “[The most positive aspect of the course was] the tool kit for how to recognise mental health issues, provide support and initiate difficult conversations.”

    A

  • “Excellent course very useful wish I had done it years ago.”

    A

  • “The presenter was able to deliver a very difficult topic in way that was both engaging and informative.”

    A