Building safe, supportive teams: AVA’s CST AWARE Program

Building safe, supportive teams: AVA’s CST AWARE Program  

October marks both Mental Health Month and Safe Work Month - a time to reflect on how we can build healthier, safer workplaces. Within the veterinary profession, the THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams (CST) AWARE program plays a vital role in creating a culture that supports psychological health and safety and helps workplaces meet their psychosocial safety legal requirements 

CST AWARE is a veterinary-specific, one-hour training that helps teams define what psychological health and safety look like in veterinary practice. The program explores workplace culture, what it means to be part of a ‘safe team,’ and how each individual can contribute to a well, equitable, and supportive environment. Participants learn through evidence-based examples, strengths-based approaches, and self-reflection. 

This week, Mr Keith Merchant and the team from Sydney University Teaching Camden Hospital took part in a session.

“The content is engaging in the way it's presented – both visually and conceptually,” Mr Merchant said. “Staff who spoke to me afterwards said they enjoyed the presentation and the chance to step outside their normal work and think about mental health, their work environment, and people they know who may have mental health or neurodiversity challenges.” 

He praised the program for catering to participants with different levels of training and experience. 

“This course engages people to think about their workplace in a new way. It gives them a chance to ask questions in a very non-threatening environment. Because it comes from the AVA - an industry-based leader - it makes people feel to share knowing that this is an issue being dealt with across the profession.” 

The sessions are available both in clinics and online. Those who register can access participant workbooks, sign an industry pledge to promote mentally healthy workplaces, and explore additional learning materials through AVA’s Learning Management System, including an expanding library of videos on key topics. 

To learn more and to register for an online session, visit the AVA website. 

If you want to experience the session first to see if it’s right for your team, we have a webinar version for individuals this coming Thursday – 6th November at 7pm. Register here.