New Report Reveals Severe Mental Health and Psychosocial Risks Among Australian Higher Education Staff

Kathmandu. A new report indicates serious problems with the mental health and 'psychosocial' safety of employees working in Australia's higher education sector.

The study, published by the University of Adelaide, noted that psychosocial risks at high and very high levels are increasing due to weaknesses in the safety system.

According to the national survey on university staff well-being, funded by the Australian Research Council, the main reasons identified were weak managerial support, insufficient prioritization of employee welfare, limited communication and consultation processes, and a lack of identification and management of psychosocial risks.

More than 80 percent of employees participating in the study reported experiencing high levels of 'emotional' exhaustion. Very high psychosocial safety risks were found in all 36 assessed universities, which is more than double the rate found in general workplaces.

Charles Darwin University, the University of New South Wales, and the University of Queensland ranked highest on the psychosocial safety environment index.

Lead researcher Professor Maureen Dollard emphasized the urgent need to take effective steps for the mental health safety of employees. She stressed the need to adopt an employee welfare-oriented management system rather than a production-oriented one.

Under Australia's Work Health and Safety laws, universities have a mandatory obligation to prevent and properly manage psychosocial risks.