One in five Australians (aged 16-85) experience mental health problems in any year. A National Mental Health Report shows that the proportion of people with mental illness accessing treatment is half that of people with physical disorders. The impact on workplaces is substantial—staff turnover, loss of productivity, and confusion among the team on how to help coworkers. To create a safe and healthy work environment, it’s critical to break down the myths and misunderstandings around mental health. Nicole Jordan, a coworker at MIC Greensborough, is doing just that with her business Mental Health Education & Training.
Nicole and her colleague Kerryn deliver Mental Health First Aid courses, educating adults in how to provide initial support to people experiencing a mental health problem, the worsening of a mental health illness, or experiencing a mental health crisis.
“Normalising the need to value our mental health as we do our physical health is so rewarding,” Nicole says. “The knowledge and skills taught are very practical and can help whether you are supporting someone through a bad day or potentially something more.”
The business offers training in Mental Health First Aid, as well as The Wellbeing Lab. “The Wellbeing Lab workshops use evidence-based research to empower people to design their own wellbeing plan,” she explains. “We know what works for one person doesn’t always suit the next.”
Nicole’s primary target market is workplaces. Her goal is for workplaces to value trained Mental Health First Aiders as highly as physical First Aiders. “Giving managers of people practical resources to support their staff and each other is energising and gives me a real sense of purpose.”
This sense of purpose is what drove Nicole to take a leap of faith and leave the organisation she’d been with for 25 years. She wanted her future work to be meaningful. She took her love of facilitation training and trained as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor and completed a Diploma in Positive Psychology and Wellbeing.
“Having my own business has allowed me to work on what I’m passionate about and earn a living from it,” Nicole says, and comments on benefits that are often unique to a woman running her own business. “I have greater flexibility to support my children in their school and sport, and importantly allow time for my personal wellbeing.”
We asked Nicole for her opinion on the importance of International Women’s Day. “I think it’s great that women can use the day to reflect on what they do well, and through public events inspire each other to be the best version of themselves. I think we have got better at doing this as women, and people in general, so maybe one day, we won’t need to rely on a single day.”
Nicole’s advice to women thinking of starting their own business is, “Absolutely give it a go! Don’t worry about making mistakes—learning from the process is just as valuable as the outcome. Ask for help—people are willing to help, you’ve just got to ask,” she says. And lastly, “It can be lonely at times, so having support networks around is invaluable.”
Melbourne Innovation Centre Greensborough provides a strong network of entrepreneurs and small business owners for Nicole, and a range of training and meeting rooms in which to deliver her courses.