General practitioners are calling for stronger Medicare funding to allow longer, more effective consultations. At the same time, the NSW Government has committed $5.4 million to launch Mentally Healthy Workplaces Australia, a national initiative focused on improving psychological safety, reducing the $2.8 billion annual cost of mentally unsafe workplaces, and improving return-to-work outcomes.

Together, these developments signal a major shift: mental health is no longer just a clinical or personal issue — it’s a systemic workforce and economic challenge. Employers are being urged to adopt stronger preventative frameworks, while insurers and intermediaries play a growing role in supporting early intervention and recovery.

The Life Code Compliance Committee’s recent inquiries reinforce this, with increased scrutiny on mental health underwriting practices and claims handling. Reviews into Total and Permanent Disability and Income Protection delays, as well as investigations into overturned life insurance claims, all point toward a shared industry responsibility for better mental health outcomes.

For brokers, this underscores an important message — mental health risk is now a central component of both people protection and business continuity. Products such as Group Personal Accident, Corporate Travel, and tailored wellbeing support can play a valuable role in helping clients manage exposure, support staff wellbeing, and maintain resilience.

At Batch Underwriting, we continue to recognise the intersection between physical safety, psychological wellbeing, and financial protection — and the importance of integrated coverage solutions that help businesses care for their people while keeping workplaces strong, safe, and supported.

You can read the RACGP Health of the Nation 2025 report here.