wellness
Craigieburn Workers Gain New Mental Health Support Rights This Month
Craigieburn employees now hold clearer entitlements to mental health support under revised employment rules that took effect this month.
How we reported this
Craigieburn workers gained the right to request up to three days of flexible leave each quarter for stress-related recovery without a medical certificate starting July 1.
Employers in the area must now respond to such requests within five business days or face potential mediation through the Fair Work Ombudsman. The timing aligns with reports of higher absenteeism at distribution centres along the Hume Freeway corridor after last week's widespread mobile network failures disrupted shifts and family contact.
Staff at the Craigieburn Community Centre on Hanson Road run weekly drop-in sessions every Wednesday evening focused on rights education and simple breathing techniques. The same venue partners with the Craigieburn Plaza management to host a free Workplace Resilience Program that includes one-on-one coaching slots booked through the council website.
Hume City Council figures from its 2025 staff survey showed 38 percent of local employees described persistent stress that affected sleep, with average lost productivity valued at $1,450 per worker. Those numbers prompted the council to allocate an extra $92,000 this financial year for on-site counselling at both locations.
Understanding updated entitlements
Under the new provisions, employees at businesses with more than 15 staff can access mental health leave that counts toward their existing personal leave balance. Smaller operations must still consider requests on a case-by-case basis but face no automatic penalty for refusal. The rules also require employers to keep any discussion confidential and prevent it from affecting performance reviews.
Where to find immediate help
Anyone wanting to review their specific rights can book a 30-minute consultation at the Community Centre for no charge. The Plaza program offers evening webinars on 14 July and 28 July that cover how to document stress impacts for managers. Participants receive a printed checklist of local contacts including the after-hours support line run by Hume Community Health Services. Workers are advised to start by speaking with their direct supervisor or union representative before attending any session.