Coaching business owners through tough times

We know small businesses are a vital part of the Australian economy, employing 44% of Australia’s workforce¹. As an owner of a small business, you may be feeling the pressure of the last 12 months when it comes to supporting your staff, your livelihood and your family.

Stress is a normal part of running a business, but it’s easy to become overwhelmed with so many people relying on you. If business has hit a rough patch due to COVID-19 or your work/life balance is out of whack and affecting your mental health, our partner Beyond Blue may be able to help.

NewAccess for Small Business Owners is a free and confidential mental health program, developed by Beyond Blue to give small business owners the support they need. You will receive six sessions with a dedicated coach who also has a small business background – so they truly understand what you’re going through and can provide practical tips to help manage life’s pressures and move forward.

What can you expect?

After making an initial enquiry, your first call will be an initial 60-minute assessment to meet your coach and start to talk through your challenges. NewAccess for Small Business Owners uses Low-intensity Cognitive Based Therapy (LiCBT) to recognise the way people think, act and feel. You’ll be talking about your issues in plain English, with no clinical jargon. Your coach is there to help you tackle any unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, using an individual plan that you develop together.

After this initial call, you’ll have access to up to five 30-minute weekly sessions where you’ll check in with your coach. They can walk you through your plan, review your progress and help you learn practical skills for the future.

Reach out when you need it

NewAccess for Small Business Owners is an extension of Beyond Blue’s NewAccess program, which achieves an average recovery rate of 70 per cent. The difference? All coaches have had experience running their own small business, allowing them to better understand the challenges small business owners may face. These can include feelings of obligation to continue to work when unwell, taking work home or constantly prioritising your business over yourself.

The program also seeks to overcome other barriers to accessing mental health services – which include stigma, cost, lack of time, and limited availability in convenient hours and locations. NewAccess for Small Business Owners aims to make it easier for people to access practical help wherever they are, and reduce the risk of more severe or long-lasting mental health challenges.

Who is it for?

NewAccess for Small Business Owners is for anyone aged 18 or over who owns a small business. For the purposes of program eligibility, a small business is defined as less than 20 employees.

You won’t be eligible for the program if you are already seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist, and/or dealing with severe or complex mental health issues.

You can meet with your coach over the phone or via video call from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. Best of all, you don’t need a doctor’s referral to access the program – one less thing for your overflowing to-do list. So take some time to check-in with yourself, and get help if you need it.

If this service could help you or someone you know, call 1300 945 301 or enquire online with Beyond Blue today.