Looking after our mental health is an ongoing issue for all our community, and the broking sector is no different. Our brokers are on the frontline supporting their clients through some of the most important decisions they will make, in good times and in bad.
The Black Dog Institute estimates that 1 in 6 working-age people will have a mental health issue at any point in time, and around 45% of Australians aged between 16 and 85 will experience a mental health issue at some point in their life.
We know the stresses, pressure and day to day toll this job can take on the wellbeing of AFG brokers. It’s for this reason, we are launching the AFG Broker Assistance Program (BAP).
For many years, via the AFG Employee Assistance Program (EAP), we’ve given our staff access to a national network of professional mental health specialists and covered the expense whenever they have needed the support the program offers.
Now, we’re expanding this program and offering the same service to all AFG brokers across Australia.
We’ve collaborated with Mind & Matter Consulting, a leading national mental health provider with clinics across the country. We’ve also created a confidential 1800 number for AFG brokers to access the service.
David Bailey, AFG CEO said, “Awareness of mental health is increasing, but we still face a world where people with mental health problems face discrimination and challenges getting the help they need. We are all human, and we are all vulnerable to illness. When our mental health suffers, everything around us is affected, including our work. I’m very pleased that we can offer this kind of assistance to our brokers.”
AFG brokers will receive the details about how to access this service over the coming week.
There are many resources which all Australian’s can refer to for information about mental illness.
Beyond Blue Support Service – Phone: 1300 22 46 36
Black Dog Institute – www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/
Lifeline Phone: 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au/
Australian Government: Head to Health – headtohealth.gov.au/
