VMHPAA Marks International Workers’ Day with a Call to Prioritise Psychological Safety for Australia’s Essential Workforce
- Shane Warren
- Apr 30
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 9
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1 May, 2025
VMHPAA Marks International Workers’ Day with a Call to Prioritise Psychological Safety for Australia’s Essential Workforce
On International Workers’ Day, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association Australia (VMHPAA) stands in solidarity with the essential workers who build, grow, fix, and move our world forward.
From farmers to freight drivers, tradies to technicians, these are the often-unsung heroes who keep society running. As we recognise their physical labour, VMHPAA is calling for equal attention to the mental and emotional wellbeing of Australia’s workforce.
“It's time we stop taking the mental health of our essential workers for granted,” said Shane Warren, Chair of VMHPAA and a workplace mental health consultant with over 33 years of experience. “Psychological safety isn’t a luxury, it's a basic necessity in any modern workplace. Our vocationally trained mental health practitioners are uniquely equipped to help businesses build environments where workers feel respected, supported, and safe to speak up.”
While the spotlight often shines on physical safety in manual and industrial workspaces, mental health challenges, including stress, isolation, and burnout, are growing concerns across all labour sectors.
“The roles that are too often overlooked are the ones holding everything up,” Warren added. “We owe it to these workers to ensure their minds are cared for as much as their bodies.”
Susan Sandy, VMHPAA Secretary and a leading workplace wellbeing advisor in the education sector, agrees:
“Mental health support can’t be limited to office jobs. We need tailored, culturally and industry-aware mental health practitioners embedded in every kind of workplace, especially the ones where vulnerability isn’t talked about enough.”
A Call to Action
VMHPAA urges employers, unions, and government leaders to:
Integrate vocationally trained mental health professionals into workplace wellbeing strategies.
Provide ongoing mental health training for team leaders and managers.
Promote psychological safety as a core part of occupational health and safety standards.
On this International Workers’ Day, let’s not only applaud the hands that keep our world turning, let’s also commit to protecting the hearts and minds behind them.
Media Contact:
Shane Warren, Chair
Susan Sandy, Secretary
VMHPAA
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