A property company has partnered with not-for-profit charitable foundation Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds (HHTS).
The new partner is Frasers Property Industrial (FPI) and it will reportedly be the foundation’s ‘Top Property Sponsor’ for the next three years.
HHTS was established to create and deliver Australia’s first single national mental health strategy for the road transport and logistics industries.
Its core objective is to improve the mental health and wellbeing of every worker across the broader road transport, logistics and supply chain sectors.
As a key partner, FPI said it will join HHTS on its mission to tackle the mental health and wellbeing issues faced by many workers within the sector, sharing ideas and resources to promote the growth and impact of the foundation into the future.
“The partnership with HHTS was a natural fit for us – with our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our staff and customers being of paramount importance,” said FPI CEO, Reini Otter.
“Each year we directly and indirectly employ thousands of people in the industrial sector, including those in the transport, warehousing and logistics supply chain.
“It’s essential we’re actively involved in supporting the wellbeing of these employees and facilitating a healthy work environment.”
FPI, according to Otter, will plan to continue to address mental health issues faced within the sector by sharing ideas and resources with HHTS.
SuperFriend’s 2020 Thriving Workplace Survey revealed the transport, postal and warehousing industries had the poorest index score (62.1) out of the 19 industries measured.
The survey, Otter said, showed the total proportion of workers in these industries who have experienced a mental health condition has increased by 8.9 percentage points to 59.5 per cent over the past 12 months.
“There are significant challenges for the road transport, warehousing and logistics industry to face together,” said HHTS interim CEO, Lachlan Benson.
“With support from companies such as Frasers Property Industrial there’s the potential to make long-lasting and impactful change for our industry nation-wide,” he said. “As a foundation, we encourage close collaboration with our partners and are proud to be working with Frasers Property Industrial, and thankful for their support of our national industry initiative, taking care of workers across the entire sector.”
HHTS is guided by some of the most experienced road transport and logistics figures in Australia, including Linfox owner Lindsay Fox AC, as Patron; Primary Connect Managing Director and Woolworths Group Chief Supply Chain Officer, Paul Graham, as Chair; along with other members from founding partner companies including Qube, Coles, Linfox, Ron Finemore Transport and Australia Post.
In addition to supporting HHTS, FPI said it has implemented a host of mental health and wellbeing initiatives across its industrial sites.
Initiatives include the Live Life Get Active program in Australia, which has been recognised by the Green Building Council of Australia. The program looks at addressing health, wellbeing and fitness with employees, offering programs such as free fitness classes.
FPI also recently redesigned its head office in Sydney to focus on creating healthier workplace outcomes, reportedly achieving both 6-Star Green Star Interiors v1.1 (Green Building Council of Australia) and Gold WELL certification.