Does the well-being of an elected leader matter?

It's everyone's responsibility to support those who lead us, including councillors, workplace leaders, and community members. Legal requirements now address Work Health and Safety (WHS) issues, including psychosocial hazards. The draft Workforce Management Plan, a key document in the Draft 2024/25 – 2027/28 Delivery Program and Operational Plan, is currently open for community consultation and seems the appropriate place to address WHS issues in the workplace here.

However, councillors, while holding a position of civic office, aren't technically employees and thus fall through the cracks of many WHS requirements. They occupy a unique position in the governing body, so although they’re required to ensure the workplace is psychologically safe, they lack the resources available to other workers.

The stigma around discussing the well-being of our elected leaders has historically been a barrier. Politics is tough, demanding resilience and a thick skin, as any perceived weakness can be exploited for political gain by others.

Acknowledging the mental well-being of elected leaders is crucial for community outcomes. In 2022, the Office of Local Government released the Model Councillor and Staff Interaction Policy, representing a best practice approach. While not mandatory, councils can adopt or adapt it. A draft version which aims to introduce communication frameworks to promote positive and respectful interactions between staff and councillors is a helpful start and is proposed for community consultation after the May 2024 Council meeting.

Recent research in VIC shows a high attrition rate among first-term councillors, and the Australian Women for Local Government Australia (ALGWA) survey results are sobering. Globally, 41% of politicians rank their mental wellbeing as low, compared to 32% of police and 27% of ambulance drivers (other high stress jobs), according to the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale.

These statistics highlight the need for change. Ensuring supportive structures for future councillors is essential. A politician's well-being is tied to their performance, ability to handle job challenges, and delivering for constituents. Supporting current and future councillors helps create a healthy workplace, equipping them with the skills to serve their communities effectively.

Despite the challenges, 74% of respondents in the ALGWA report would run again, driven by a motivation to serve the community, which acts as a protective factor against declining mental well-being. However, young people are often deterred from entering politics due to workplace culture, according to the Global Institute For Women’s Leadership. This culture needs to change.

The Notice of Motion (NoM) I’m raising in the May 2024 Council Meeting, seeks to implement additional institutional structures and processes to support the wellbeing of current and aspiring councillors, using the ALGWA survey results as a starting point.

We all play a role in addressing the well-being of our elected leaders. Councillors must take responsibility for their own self-leadership, and Councils must address structural influences affecting mental well-being. Potential impacts on leaders include reduced engagement, strained relationships, and stress on family, among others.

Our elected leaders work to represent their constituents and do good. However, they face numerous challenges, such as long hours, public interruptions, job insecurity, lack of formal job descriptions, insufficient training, low wages, online abuse, potential violence, and low-trust environments.

Understanding these conditions is crucial in supporting the mental well-being of our elected leaders, ensuring they can perform their important roles effectively.

 “Politicians make decisions that affect our lives. Our wellbeing, as citizens, is tied to their mental wellbeing” – Dr Courtnee Melton-Fant (Assistant Professor, School of Public Health University of Memphis)

Ps. In my short time as a Councillor I’ve found some GREAT resources from companies such as Locale Learning which provide free informal workshops to support local leaders, empowering them with the skills to perform at their best while serving their constituents.