As the veterinary profession marks R U OK? Day and World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, we are reminded that suicide prevention is not just about responding when someone is in crisis. It is about creating workplaces, teams and cultures where people feel safe, supported and connected long before they reach that point.
This message sits at the heart of the THRIVE Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework, which recognises that meaningful suicide prevention requires action across the full continuum of mental health. From preventing harm and reducing workplace risk factors through to promoting wellbeing, encouraging help-seeking and supporting recovery.
This year, the Australian Veterinary Association is proud to announce that THRIVE has received a fourth grant from the Zoetis Foundation, providing a further USD$150,000 investment in our flagship workplace wellbeing initiative, Cultivating Safe Teams (CST). This funding will allow us to continue expanding practical, evidence-based training that helps veterinary workplaces become both a safe place to work and a great place to work.
This ongoing support recognises the importance of addressing workplace factors that influence mental health outcomes and the success of CST in building awareness and capability across the profession. Since 2023, over 1300 veterinary professionals have participated in the program, helping to create a growing movement focused on psychosocial health and safety in veterinary workplaces.
Creating Safe Workplaces and Great Teams
CST was developed in response to findings from the AVA’s landmark wellbeing research, which highlighted the significant impact workplace factors can have on the mental health of veterinary professionals. Now offered through a two-tiered program – CST Aware and CST Action – early results from the program have been overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting increased confidence in identifying psychosocial hazards and recognising opportunities to improve workplace wellbeing.
While CST Aware and CST Action are built on the same evidence-based foundations, they serve different purposes.
CST Aware is designed to build understanding and awareness. In just one hour, participants learn the fundamentals of psychosocial health and safety, psychological safety, workplace risk factors and the shared responsibility all team members have in creating healthier workplace cultures. It provides a common language and understanding across teams and helps veterinary professionals recognise why psychosocial risks matter.
CST Action is the next step for workplaces that are ready to move from awareness to implementation. Rather than focusing on knowledge alone, Action supports participants to assess psychosocial risks within their own workplace, identify priority areas for improvement and develop practical, evidence-based interventions tailored to their team’s unique needs.
Through workplace risk assessment, implementation planning, peer learning, coaching from organisational psychologists and ongoing support, CST Action empowers veterinary professionals to create measurable and sustainable improvements in workplace psychological health and safety.
Together, CST Aware and CST Action provide a practical pathway for veterinary workplaces to turn good intentions into sustainable improvements in wellbeing, safety and team culture.
Register for a CST Aware or CST Action session
