Webinar: Supporting small business owners' mental health by Pinstripe Media

About This Webinar

If you are a small business owner or sole trader, you may be finding things challenging right now. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone.

The mental health of Australian small business owners has been substantially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing uncertainty continues to present challenges to this community. These are tough times for many but particularly for those who are self-employed or sole traders, who are juggling running a business with lockdowns, financial uncertainty and disruptions, while managing their mental wellbeing.

In this webinar, Georgie Harman, CEO at Beyond Blue; Bruce Billson, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman; and Lawrence Atkinson, a NewAccess for Small Business Owners Coach, will discuss what impact running a small business can have on your mental health, particularly during times of economic uncertainty, and will outline key supports available for small business owners experiencing challenges.

A key focus of the session will be introducing a new, free mental health coaching program NewAccess for Small Business Owners.

The webinar aims to raise awareness around small business mental health and provide strategies and advice that attendees can utilise or pass on to someone they know.

Find out more about the NewAccess for Small Business Owners developed by Beyond Blue here.

Presenters

Georgie Harman

CEO, Beyond Blue

Georgie has significant and broad-ranging leadership, policy and service delivery experience in the community, public and private sectors.

Georgie was appointed as the CEO of beyondblue in May 2014 where she has led a significant expansion of effort and results in service innovation, suicide prevention and digital solutions.

Previously, she helped set up and was the Deputy CEO of the National Mental Health Commission, providing independent advice to government on reform.

From 2006-2012, Georgie had national responsibility for mental health, suicide prevention, substance misuse, cancer and chronic disease policy and programs as a senior executive at the Commonwealth Department of Health. She led the development of a significant whole of government mental health Budget package and the strategy and development of legislation to introduce plain packaging of tobacco products in Australia – a world first.

Georgie has also led national reforms to lift Australia’s organ and tissue donation rates and worked in the HIV/AIDS sector in Australia and the UK.

Bruce Billson

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman

Bruce Billson commenced his role as Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) in March 2021.

Bruce brings experience and knowledge to the role of Ombudsman, and an understanding of the issues facing small business, having started his own advisory business in 2016.

Bruce’s political career spans 30 years, including his role as Cabinet Minister for Small Business from 2013-2015. During this role, Bruce was instrumental in the establishment of ASBFEO and the passing of complex legislation to establish the office.

Bruce has shown his dedication to small business through various board appointments, including the Franchise Council of Australia, Deakin University Business School and Australian Property Institute, and more recently through his appointment as Administrator for the City of Whittlesea.

Lawrence Atkinson

NewAccess Coach

Lawrence has held several General Manager positions in medium-sized professional services firms, along with senior roles in two major executive search firms. He currently runs his own management consulting business with his wife. His 27-year career with Westpac saw him working in such diverse locations as the UK and Europe, the Middle East, Papua New Guinea, and Australia during which time he was mostly involved in business development and sales roles in international trade, retail and business banking.

Lawrence has a variety of skills and experience include coaching, sales training, marketing and business development, human resource management, finance, quality assurance, and information technology. He has a love of helping others and working together to find the best solution. This has helped him tremendously in his current role where he assists small business owners suffering mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

David Koch

TV Presenter

David Koch (”Kochie”) is one of Australia’s leading business and finance commentators and co-host of Australia’s number one breakfast TV program, Sunrise.