The Media Federation of Australia (MFA) has unveiled its 'MFA People First – A Playbook for Leaders on Psychosocial Safety', a comprehensive guide designed to assist agencies, clients, and media owners in addressing psychosocial safety in the workplace.

The playbook, which was developed over a 12-month period with input from the MFA People Steering Group, agency leaders, and led by Select Wellness Australia Founder & CEO Martine Beaumont, provides tools, frameworks, and insights to help leaders meet their obligations under Australia’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws, including Safework Australia’s Model WHS Act and state and territory regulations.

"The MFA People First Playbook was created in recognition of the critical importance of mental health and psychosocial safety in the workplace. MFA members are deeply committed to promoting mentally healthy workplaces and safeguarding their people from harm and harassment. By developing this playbook, our goal is to equip leaders with the necessary tools and insights to prioritise mental wellbeing, creating workplaces that not only safeguard people but also promote a culture of inclusivity and care," said Director, People at the MFA, Linda Wong.

The launch of the playbook coincides with National Mental Health Month during October, and this year’s World Mental Health Day theme of ‘It’s time to prioritise mental health in the workplace’. The playbook is available via the MFA’s People First Hub and is part of the MFA’s 2024 Psychosocial Safety Action Plan.

"Creating a safe and thriving environment is a shared responsibility, and the broader industry plays a vital role in this effort. That’s why the MFA Board decided to make the playbook and its curated resources accessible to everyone in the industry – because real change requires collective action. Our next step has been to engage with all stakeholders in our supply chain, including industry bodies, clients and media owners, to develop a Code aligned with the government’s guidelines on consultation, cooperation and coordination. We’re excited to launch this next month," said MFA CEO, Sophie Madden.

In addition to the playbook, the MFA is also developing an industry Psychosocial Safety Code of Conduct, set to launch next month.