Organisational Mental Health Response To Disruptive Events

This course is designed for managers or supervisors who are responsible for the development and implementation of response procedures in their organisations during disruptive events.

“Organisational disruption” refers to significant interruptions in the operations of an organisation or work area, caused by “disruptive events”.

Disruptive events are more common than most people realise, and they are increasing as workplace demands increase.

Disruptive events are organisational-wide emergencies or disasters which are not covered by standard procedures and may be internal or external to the organisation, and may include:

• Public health risks like epidemics and pandemics
• Significant economic incidents
• Legal and regulatory shifts
• Natural disasters or catastrophes
• Bomb or terrorist threats
• Fires and explosions
• Hazardous substance spills
• Internal emergencies such as loss of power or water supply
• Security emergencies such as armed robberies, intruders and disturbed persons

Organisations should design and implement Emergency Response Plans that include mental health support for their staff during emergencies.

Disruptive incidents often result in psychosocial hazards and risks.

Psychosocial risks can lead to adverse outcomes or, if properly managed, positive effects:

• Health issues and related conditions,
• Cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, diabetes, anxiety,
• Depression, sleep disorders, and associated health behaviours,
• Substance abuse, unhealthy eating habits, and
• Decreased job satisfaction, commitment, and productivity.

Potential negative outcomes (impact) for the organisation:

• Increased costs due to employee absenteeism,
• Higher turnover rates,
• Reduced turnover or service quality,
• Increased recruitment and retraining expenses,
• Workplace investigations and litigation, and
• Damage to the organisation’s reputation.

The Organisational Mental Health Response To Disruptive Events course equips participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to support the mental health and well-being of employees during disruptive events within an organisation or work area. 

It involves participating in the management of psychological health and safety in the workplace and offering support to others amid organisational disruptions.

• Identify and understand disruptive events and their impact on an organisation
• Evaluate business risks and potential impacts in the context of organisational disruption
• Apply relevant legislative requirements to potential disruptive events
• Determine the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders involved in an event
• Assess extent of organisational disruption
• Assist in formulating and implementing organisational responses to disruptions
• Actively contribute to managing psychological health and safety during disruptive events
• Participate in effective communication and consultation in response to a disruptive event
• Provide support to employees experiencing psychological distress
• Foster and maintain a supportive work environment during organisational disruption
• Evaluate the effectiveness of organisational response to disruption

This qualification will be suited to the following job roles:

• Work Health and Safety Manager,
• Human Resources Manager,
• Work Health and Safety Advisor, or
• Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU).

Must have knowledge of how to undertake Work Health and Safety risk assessments and develop hazard registers. Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety is desirable.

Participants should be at least 18 years old to attend. 

Residency and possession of a residential address in Western Australia are required.

Applicants should exhibit strong language, literacy, and numeracy capabilities. Our courses are delivered using straightforward English, videos, images, and interactive questioning to ensure all participants fully grasp the required knowledge and hone the skills needed for their professional roles

If you believe you will need assistance due to your LLN skills, please contact our head office before enrolling to discuss your training needs. A LLN assessment may be conducted at pre-enrolment to assess whether the applicant requires LLN support for this training.

All participants are required to show identification at the training course, with a photo ID being the basic necessity (for instance, a Driver’s License, Passport, or similar).

USI Number Requirements:

All students doing nationally recognised training from January 1, 2018 must possess a Unique Student Identifier (USI). For more information and to create a USI Number visit the Government USI site here.

The entire Organisational Mental Health Response To Disruptive Events course is structured with a combined delivery and comprises a two (2) day (8 hour) in-class practical course, followed by self-paced homework.

The course utilises a diverse and dynamic teaching methodology, including structured tutorials, interactive workshops, case studies, videos, practical assignments, and real-world applications within the workplace setting. Throughout the course, participants will engage in both individual and collaborative group work, alongside various assessment tasks.

The trainers and assessors responsible for delivering our course are accredited experts in their respective fields. They hold the requisite qualification(s) to deliver this course and meet the relevant professional experience requirements in line with the 2025 Standards Credential Policy.

Units of competency to be completed for this course