Preliminary Analysis of Workplace Mental Wellbeing Programs in the Australian Mining Industry

Abstract

Mental wellbeing programs at the workplace are gaining recognition and are a pathway to help identify, screen, and manage the mental wellbeing of employees. The mining industry is an excellent context for this study because of its unique features such as longer shift work, Fly-In-Fly-Out, male dominant work force, and the boom and bust cycle that has potential impact on the mental wellbeing of employees. This study seeks to understand how and in what context the mental wellbeing programs are effective and is guided by integrating Program Theory with Social Cognitive Theory, to create an ontological framework to map out the mental wellbeing programs in Australia's mining industry. NVivo 11 is used on publicly available data on the workplace mental wellbeing programs found in 10 companies in Australia's mining industry for analysis. The preliminary results demonstrate that the primary objective of these programs are creating mental wellbeing awareness and provide support to the employees. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in mental wellbeing programs. From the employer's perspective, this study would provide a map on how and in what situations the programs are effective and can make strategic development and change to make the organisational change.