APS Mental Health Capability Hub

What is the APS Mental Health Capability Framework?

The framework is a tailored, systems-based approach to building mental health and suicide prevention capability within the APS. It provides an overarching architecture for agencies to use as a base from which to build mental health capability, while remaining flexible and adaptable to agency-specific needs. The framework is underpinned by six domains and recognises the mutual responsibility of the workplace and the worker in building this capability.

The framework was developed by the APS, for the APS, following a comprehensive review into mental health capability. The framework was co-designed with APS staff and subject matter experts, and informed by established evidence-informed approaches to developing and sustaining mental health in the workplace.

Why is it important?

Adverse events and the high prevalence of mental ill-health in the community reinforce the need to develop the mental health capability of the APS workforce. The APS has a direct and impactful role in supporting community welfare and recovery from extreme crisis and adversity. Prioritising the development of mental health capability is also an enabler of diversity and inclusion, and supports the APS to meet the needs of its staff, and significantly, the needs of its future workforce.

What does framework alignment enable?

The framework provides a shared APS vision for mental health and suicide prevention, while allowing agencies to personalise their service offerings, procedures and policies to meet their unique operating contexts. Aligning corporate practices to the framework enables agencies to:

• have a shared language and vision that improves knowledge exchange and unnecessary reinvention or duplication of efforts across the APS
• have direction, coordination and a basis for continuous improvement and evidence-informed practice
• ground mental health related initiatives and activities with high level strategies and coordinated, measurable steps
• provide quality assurance and identify gaps in current offerings.

How can agencies align their corporate practices to the framework?

The APS Mental Health Capability Hub is a blended program for practitioners with responsibility for their agency’s mental health and wellbeing initiatives. The hub features a series of suites targeting different components of framework alignment. These include tools, practical guidance, resources and capability programs practitioners can use and adapt for their agency’s operating context and needs. The hub is designed to evolve over time, with updates made to existing resources and new resources created regularly.

The hub’s suites include information on:

• assessing agency maturity against the framework and forward planning to increase maturity of practice
• mental health and suicide prevention practice considerations
• responding to psychosocial hazards
• relational capability programs and agency roll-out guidance.

The APS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit provides APS agencies aligning their practices to the framework with support. Contact MHSP@apsc.gov.au with questions or requests for assistance.

Note: The Unit does not provide clinical advice on specific staffing matters. APS staff seeking guidance on the mental health and wellbeing supports available to them should contact their agency's human resources area.