Mental Health Month | October 2026

Mental Health Support in the Workplace | Landscaping Victoria

WELLBEING

Looking after mental health in landscaping means making time for people and paying attention to how we work. In the final article in Landscaping Victoria’s Mental Health Month series, we explore practical ways to build healthier workplaces, stay connected, and keep support within reach year-round.

Carolyn Tanner | 29 October 2026 | 5 min read

Looking after our people. Beyond Mental Health Month

The month ends. The care continues.

Throughout October, we’ve encouraged members to notice when something isn’t right, make time for supportive conversations and know where to find help.

As Mental Health Month draws to a close, those conversations still matter.

So do the everyday decisions that shape our working lives: setting realistic deadlines, providing clear instructions, listening to concerns and making sure people have the support they need.

Whether you’re working for yourself, leading a crew, or part of a larger team, we can keep building on looking after our people.

A healthier workplace starts with how we work

Changing schedules, demanding jobs and competing priorities are familiar across landscaping. But when workloads become consistently unmanageable, instructions are unclear or people feel unsupported, those conditions can create risks to psychological health.

What are psychosocial hazards?

Psychosocial hazards are aspects of how work is organised, managed or experienced that can cause psychological harm. Examples include excessive job demands, unclear roles and inadequate support.

Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025, in effect since 1 December 2025, require employers to identify psychosocial hazards, eliminate associated risks so far as is reasonably practicable, or reduce them where elimination is not reasonably practicable. Employers must also review and, where necessary, revise risk controls in specified circumstances.

Consulting employees — and any relevant health and safety representatives — is part of understanding and addressing workplace risks.

What could this look like in your business?

Start by looking at what is making work difficult. Involve your team in understanding the issues and finding practical solutions.

Review workloads and deadlines. When plans change, consider whether staffing, timeframes and expectations need to change too.
Make responsibilities clear. Ensure people understand their role, what’s expected and who they can approach for help.
Provide practical support. Check that apprentices and team members have the guidance, equipment and supervision they need.
Take concerns seriously. Give people a clear way to raise issues, respond respectfully and follow through.
Check whether changes helped. Keep listening, review what’s working and adjust where needed.

Supportive conversations and counselling matter. Addressing harmful working conditions matters too.

Keep support around the person

Alongside improving how work gets done, keep making time for individual conversations.

If someone seems to be struggling, approach them privately, listen without judgement and ask what would help. Their answer might be different from what you expected.

Encourage professional support where needed, whether through their GP, a counselling service or an employee assistance program where available. Ask who else they feel comfortable turning to and what has helped them before.

Keep checking in, while recognising that you don’t have to provide every kind of support yourself.

Working for yourself? Your wellbeing counts too

When you’re managing the work, clients and paperwork yourself, it can be easy to keep pushing through.

Give yourself room in the schedule as well. Set realistic deadlines, allow time for breaks and regularly review what you can reasonably take on.

Build regular contact with a trusted industry peer or mentor so you have someone to talk things through with.

You don’t need to employ a team to reach out for professional support—or to be part of the Landscaping Victoria community. Your wellbeing deserves attention before things become unmanageable.

Connection is part of belonging to Landscaping Victoria

Sometimes it helps to speak with someone who understands the work.

That might be an apprentice learning from an experienced landscaper, a business owner talking through a challenge with a peer, or designers and contractors building stronger working relationships.

These connections sit alongside professional help, offering opportunities to share experiences, ask questions and feel less alone.

Members have told us they value more opportunities to connect, exchange knowledge and support each other across different roles and career stages.

We’re listening. Your feedback is helping inform our future planning, including how Landscaping Victoria can strengthen industry connections and make useful resources easier to find.

What would help you feel more connected or supported?

Whether it’s opportunities to meet others, mentoring, practical information or help finding appropriate services, we’d welcome your suggestions.

Get in touch with our Membership Officer and tell us what would make a difference for you or your team.

Where can you find mental health support?

For counselling and support

Beyond Blue: Free, confidential counselling by phone or online, available 24/7. Call 1300 22 4636. Local call costs may apply.
TIACS: Free, confidential, professional phone and text counselling for the blue-collar community and those who care about them. Call or text 0488 846 988, Monday–Friday, 8 am–10 pm AEST, excluding public holidays.

For urgent help

Lifeline: Crisis support available 24/7 on 13 11 14. If life is in danger, call 000.

For workplace resources and awareness

WorkSafe Victoria: Guidance and tools to help create psychologically healthy and safe workplaces and manage psychosocial risks.
Steel Blue’s Boot the Blues: An industry initiative raising mental health awareness and funds for Beyond Blue.
Landscaping Victoria's Wellbeing Hub: A collection of information and resources to help members find support, available through the LV Member Hub.

At Landscaping Victoria, we care about the people behind our member businesses, from those on the tools to those keeping things moving behind the scenes.

Throughout October, our Mental Health Month series will continue with practical content on supporting each other, creating healthier workplaces and recognising and managing psychosocial hazards. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Latest News, and in our fortnightly member email newsletter, LV News, as we make space for honest conversations and help our landscape and green industry community find support.

For now, you don’t need a perfect response. Making time to listen is a good place to start.

Resources for you and your workplace

WorkSafe Victoria’s psychological health guidance explains employers' obligations and how to manage psychological health risks. Its free workplace services and tools include hazard identification and risk assessment tools, planning templates and support for small and medium businesses.

Our Wellbeing Hub brings together further information and links to support for you and your team.

Looking after our people, all year

This article is the last in our Mental Health Month series, but caring for our industry’s people continues.

Keep making time for honest conversations. Keep listening to what makes work difficult and taking practical steps to improve it. And give your own wellbeing the same attention you offer others.

October gives us a reason to start. We can look after each other every month that follows.