Michaelia Cash announces My Business Health website to support small ECEC owners

Long hours, feeling isolated, worries about cash flow and making critical business decisions…all part and parcel of running a small business, numerous business owners have told the Australian Government, noting the significant impact these issues have on their mental health. 

In response, Federal Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash yesterday announced the launch of the My Business Health website to help small business owners, including those who own early childhood education and care (ECEC) services, manage stress and mental wellbeing.

The new website, Ms Cash said, “offers free tools, templates and useful tips to help small business owners manage through day-to-day operations.”

Mental health struggles, she added, not only impact the individual, but also have “a great bearing on our national prosperity”, noting that the economic impact of poor mental health in Australia’s small businesses is estimated to cost the economy over $19 billion a year.

The website is a key initiative in the Small Business Mental Health package, which also includes:

• $3.1 million to expand the trial of mental health organisation Everymind’s ‘Ahead for Business’ program, to support small and family business — particularly sole proprietors.
• $500,000 to promote existing mental health resources for small business.
• Roundtables with small business and mental health sector stakeholders to inform on policy development, particularly for regional and rural Australia.

“It’s important that all small and family business owners look after their own health and are aware of the resources available to them,” Ms Cash said.

The website includes additional links to specific advice for common issues that small business operators face “because we know that when small businesses are supported to thrive and grow all of Australia benefits,” she said in closing. 

The link for the My Business Health website may be found here.