{"id":13763,"date":"2025-08-20T22:22:23","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T12:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.workplaceoptions.com\/au\/news\/workplace-options-australia-marks-r-u-ok-day-with-a-call-for-expanding-support-when-providing-care-to-international-students-and-remote-workers\/"},"modified":"2025-08-27T09:49:37","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T23:49:37","slug":"workplace-options-australia-marks-r-u-ok-day-with-a-call-for-expanding-support-when-providing-care-to-international-students-and-remote-workers","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.workplaceoptions.com\/au\/news\/workplace-options-australia-marks-r-u-ok-day-with-a-call-for-expanding-support-when-providing-care-to-international-students-and-remote-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Workplace Options Australia marks R U OK? Day with a call for expanding support when providing care to international students and remote workers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Global employee wellbeing provider <\/span>Workplace Options (WPO) Australia<\/span><\/b> announced a call to action for <\/span>R U OK? Day <\/span><\/i>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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Recent research<\/span><\/a> reveals that nine in ten Australians feel supported when asked if they are OK, yet international students <\/span>report worse mental health than domestic peers<\/span><\/a>, 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. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cListening with intent and following up with action is vital for helping people,\u201d says WPO CEO Alan King. \u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mental Health Concerns Stemming from Workplace\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The WPO Centre for Organisational Effectiveness (COE) tracks <\/span><\/b>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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Recent data from the COE<\/span><\/a> 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. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWorkplace relationships profoundly affect mental wellbeing and organisational success,\u201d says <\/span>Oliver Brecht, Head of the Centre for Organisational Effectiveness.<\/span><\/a> \u201cOur data shows that over half of workplace-related cases in Australia stem from conflict or bullying\u2014issues 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Linking Mental Health to Organisational Productivity and Individual Success\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through ongoing work with employers and university partners, the COE has uncovered data reinforcing the connection between employee \/ students wellbeing and organisational success <\/span>WPO data:<\/span><\/a> Mental Health of workers and students:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n