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Absence Management

Absence days/employee

Daily cost of absence

Number of employees

Absence rate

0

Cost of absence per employee

$ 0

Total cost of absence

$ 0.00

Number of employees

Number of Injuries

Cost of injuries

$ 0.00

New Australian Data

$6 billion:
Cost of mental health-related absenteeism to Australian employers annually.

Mental health is rapidly becoming one of the most significant drivers of workplace absence across Australia. What was once viewed primarily as a wellbeing or workers compensation issue is now a core absence management challenge affecting workforce productivity, operational continuity, employee engagement and organisational risk

Why mental health absence requires a different response

Using absence data to identify emerging mental health risk

The critical role of early intervention

Based on verified Australian industry data

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Trusted by leading Australian employers

Mental health is reshaping absence management.

Mental health-related absence is one of the fastest growing workforce challenges in Australia.

$6b

Annual Financial Impact

The staggering total annual cost of mental health-related presenteeism and absenteeism to Australian employers.

67k

Median Psychological Injury

The median cost of a psychological injury claim is estimated at approximately $67,000.

35%

Increase Year-On-Year

Recent data shows that mental health absences are now a leading cause of long-term leave in Australian organisations.

What you'll learn

This guide explores the key trends, drivers, costs and regulatory developments shaping mental health-related absence in Australia, and outlines how organisations can use absence insights, manager capability and early intervention strategies to reduce long-term absence risk and improve workforce outcomes.

  • What causes mental health absence

    Mental health-related absence is rarely caused by a single issue. Instead, it typically reflects a combination of workplace, organisational and external pressures.

  • The critical role of early intervention

    One of the strongest predictors of successful return to work is how quickly organisations respond when absence patterns emerge.

  • Manager capability is a critical risk factor

    Managers play a central role in mental health absence outcomes.

  • The importance of return-to-work conversations

    Mental health-related return to work is often more complex than physical injury recovery.

  • Regulatory evolution: psychosocial risk in focus

    Australia’s regulatory environment is evolving rapidly in response to rising psychological harm within workplace.

What's inside the report

Data Insights & Analysis

Key insights on workforce absence, emerging risk and organisational response.

Key Drivers of Mental Health Absence

Understanding the direct relationship between workplace conditions and psychological absence outcomes.

Real-world Application

Actionable steps on how to use absence insights, manager capability and early intervention strategies to reduce long-term absence risk and improve workforce outcomes.

How leading organisations act earlier

As mental health-related absence continues to rise, organisations that adopt proactive, insight-driven absence strategies will be better positioned to reduce long-term absence, improve employee outcomes and build healthier, more resilient workforces.

 

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