Global employee wellbeing provider Workplace Options (WPO) Australia announced a call to action for R U OK? Day on Thursday, September 11: a day dedicated to advancing candid conversations about mental health and supporting people who may be suffering in silence. WPO urges universities and organisations across the country to expand and enhance wellbeing services and resources for international students, offshore learners, and remote workers.
Recent research reveals that nine in ten Australians feel supported when asked if they are OK, yet international students report worse mental health than domestic peers, including higher anxiety and multiple mental health challenges. Many international students, offshore learners, and remote workers will not reach out for support unless help is tailored to their language, time zone, and cultural context, creating a critical opportunity for organisations to create environments where everyone experiences psychological safety and sense of belonging.
“Listening with intent and following up with action is vital for helping people,” says WPO CEO Alan King. “But how can we expect people to speak up if their support systems are not accessible? We must provide care that empowers everyone, including international students and remote workers who often face high stress, cultural isolation, and limited access to help, all while being far from home.”
Mental Health Concerns Stemming from Workplace
The WPO Centre for Organisational Effectiveness (COE) tracks real, anonymised conversations between employees and clinicians. This human-centred approach uncovers the raw emotions, fears, and challenges employees are feeling, providing business leaders with real insights to drive meaningful change.
Recent data from the COE reveals that toxic relationships, such as conflict and bullying, are the predominant psychosocial risk in Australian workplaces. These challenges negatively impact both faculty and students in higher education and are often intensified for international students and remote workers who face additional barriers like language differences, financial pressures, and separation from family and friends.
“Workplace relationships profoundly affect mental wellbeing and organisational success,” says Oliver Brecht, Head of the Centre for Organisational Effectiveness. “Our data shows that over half of workplace-related cases in Australia stem from conflict or bullying—issues many endure in silence. On R U OK? Day, we are reminded that asking the question is just the start; leaders and managers must create cultures where people feel safe to speak up and because they know they will be seen, heard, and respected. Listening with intention and acting with empathy are essential tools in building trust, resilience, and wellbeing across organisations.”
Linking Mental Health to Organisational Productivity and Individual Success
Through ongoing work with employers and university partners, the COE has uncovered data reinforcing the connection between employee / students wellbeing and organisational success WPO data: Mental Health of workers and students:
- Directly influences workforce engagement, productivity, and institutional performance
- Is inextricably linked to retention, focus, and service delivery
- Goes beyond employee benefit to become a strategic lever for organisational success
Free Webinar: Caring for You While Caring for Others
In recognition of R U OK? Day, WPO Australia will host a free online webinar, “Caring for You While Caring for Others,” on Thursday, 11 September from 11:00–11:30 pm AEST. Topics will include:
- Practical techniques to improve personal wellbeing
- How to recognise and address unique caregiving challenges
- How to maintain a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle while caring for others
The webinar will be hosted by Australian workplace wellbeing expert James Callender who has over 12 years’ experience building programs that remove time and language as barriers to accessing support, and Larissa Qin, a mental health practitioner with a Master of Professional Psychology who has worked extensively as an Employee Assistance Program counsellor and wellbeing trainer.
Register for the webinar here.
About The WPO Centre for Organisational Effectiveness
The WPO Centre for Organisational Effectiveness provides data-driven consultation, leadership training, and global benchmarking on psychological safety and psychosocial risk management. Our experts work with companies worldwide to integrate workforce well-being, inclusive leadership, and organisational resilience strategies into actionable business plans.
About Workplace Options:
At Workplace Options (WPO), our philosophy is built on three core tenants: reach, relevance, and results. We are committed to delivering consistent, high-quality, and easily accessible global services — services that make a meaningful difference in employees’ lives, allowing them to more fully and effectively contribute to their organization’s success.
To help employees and their families when they need emotional, practical, and physical wellbeing support, our services are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year, delivered from service centers located around the world.
WPO delivers high-quality care digitally and in-person to more than 88 million people representing 113,000 organizations in more than 200 countries and territories.
