Mental Health Support For Our Hard-Working Apprentices

Apprentices are the lifeblood of our Big Build – working hard to deliver the road, rail, schools and hospitals Victorians need.

But the sad reality is construction workers have some of the highest rates of suicide, with young tradies more than twice as likely to take their own lives than that of other men.

Tradies are also at least six times more likely to die by suicide than as a result of workplace injury.

And apprentice tradies are overwhelmingly young men, who are among the at-risk groups least likely to reach out for mental health support when they need it.

That’s why a re-elected Andrews Labor Government will invest $4 million to establish a new mental health training program for apprentices of all trades.

Making this support freely available through work or training removes some of the barriers for seeking help, and normalises conversations around mental health.

The program may cover topics such as financial literacy, drug, alcohol and gambling awareness, family violence prevention and respectful relationships, suicide prevention, managing anxiety and dealing with workplace stress.

This announcement builds on our already strong record, including introducing new laws that enable Victorian workers who suffer a work-related mental health injury to access early treatment and support.

The Labor Government's provisional payment laws delivered on a key election promise and make sure no worker has to wait to get the urgent care they need.

We're also implementing every recommendation of the Royal Commission into Mental Health – building a mental health system that Victorians can actually rely on.

Matthew Guy’s Liberals cannot be trusted to protect and support Victorians undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships.

When they were last in government, Matthew Guy’s Liberals gutted our TAFE and skills sector, ripping more than $1 billion in funding from TAFE – closing 22 campuses and sacking 3,000 staff.

They’ve also promised to audit all major infrastructure projects and cut the Suburban Rail Loop – projects that create tens of thousands of jobs for Victorians, particularly trades and construction workers.

Only Labor will do what matters by delivering the projects and the support that are critical to the livelihoods and wellbeing of our apprentices and tradies.

 Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

"There's plenty of talk during smoko or knock-off – but not a lot of it is about mental health. This investment will help challenge that stigma – and ultimately, help save lives."

“We’ve always stood shoulder to shoulder with tradies when it comes to their workplace health and safety – delivering workplace manslaughter laws and cracking down on unsafe bosses. When it comes to protecting these workers' mental health – we'll do exactly the same.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney

“You can’t trust Matthew Guy’s Liberals when it comes to supporting our apprentices. Their savage cuts when last in government left our TAFE and training system in turmoil – and thousands of Victorians without jobs.”

“Matthew Guy’s Liberals don’t care about the safety and wellbeing of our workers – they opposed industrial manslaughter laws that protect our apprentices, trainees and workers every day.”