Several accounting bodies across Australia and New Zealand have banded together to advocate the mental health first aid upskilling for accountants working with small businesses.
This comes off the back of last year’s $1 million grant through the National Health and Medical Research Council who were developing mental health training material.
These organisations believe this training is necessary for accountants working with small-medium business clients for the following reasons:
- “Small and family businesses are the lifeblood of our communities and the backbone of our economy, so it is crucial that they emerge from the pandemic in the best financial and emotional shape possible.” (Senator Michaelia Cash)
- One in three small-medium business owners have been diagnosed as experiencing depression, anxiety, and stress in the last 12 months.
- “Accountants have played a frontline role in helping individuals and businesses manage the economic fallout, and has put them under enormous pressure. Mental health is a whole of industry issue and, more so than ever before, needs a collective approach which supports all our members.” Andrew Hunter, CPA Australia chief executive.
As one of Australia’s most trusted professions, accountants are being supported to know how to best support you.
