Get free access to Mindarma
The Victorian Government is offering free access to an online learning program to support the mental health and wellbeing of Victorian small business owners and employees.
When running a small business, it’s important to protect your mental health. The online learning program, Mindarma, is an easy to use program that can help you learn practical strategies to better manage difficult thoughts, uncomfortable emotions and times of high stress.
Small businesses can access 10 short sessions that teach mindfulness and other cognitive skills. Each interactive session takes around 15 minutes. It is an evidence-based program, developed by leading researchers and supported by the Black Dog Institute and the University of NSW.
The Mindarma online program is available via your computer, tablet or smartphone and is a cost saving of $99 per registration.
To discover more about Mindarma, watch the short video below and read the frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Discover Mindarma
Webinars
Culturally and linguistically diverse perspectives
During this webinar, our expert panel discuss mental wellbeing from the perspectives of culturally and linguistically diverse members of the Victorian small business community.
Aboriginal insights
Join our expert panel as they share their unique experiences and practical advice on looking after your wellbeing as an owner or employee of an Aboriginal-owned small business.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Mindarma is an online program that teaches mindfulness and cognitive skills that can help protect mental health and enhance a person’s ability to adapt in the face of challenging situations and difficult life events.
Delivered via an online program that can be used on your computer, device or smartphone, Mindarma is highly interactive and entertaining and is currently being used by thousands of workers who perform some of the world’s most demanding roles.
The Victorian Government is offering Mindarma as a free program for 1000 eligible Victorian small business owners and employees through to 30 June 2023, with access to the program to 31 December 2023.
Small businesses can access 10 short, interactive learning sessions (each around 15 minutes long) on your computer, tablet or phone. The program also includes a range of guided mindfulness audio tracks, which you can download to your own device and play anywhere, anytime.
Mindarma also offers a unique Brain Food section which includes a large, expert-curated library of videos, articles, book recommendations and more.
Any Victorian small business and their employees are eligible to access Mindarma through this program. Registrations to Mindarma close by 30 June 2023, with access until 31 December 2023.
Mindarma teaches cognitive strategies and mindfulness practices for stress reduction. By learning these skills, you and your employees can more effectively manage the difficult situations that may come your way.
To access Mindarma, sign up for a free account through the link. You’ll receive an email with log-in details, which you can use to access the Mindarma program from any internet-enabled device.
You’ll have access to the Mindarma online program from the time of registration until 31 December 2023. This includes the various resources curated by Mindarma psychologists, mindfulness tracks for download, and other tools available.
Mindarma was developed by Australian psychologist Dr. Sadhbh Joyce, with the support of UNSW Innovations and the Black Dog Institute.
Together with a team of experts, Dr. Joyce undertook a thorough analysis of existing research on cognitive strategies linked to resilience to see what worked and what didn’t before creating a pilot program.
The program was then evaluated in a Randomised Control Trial with 143 Australian emergency service workers before developing the online program. The research showed that emergency service workers who completed the program were significantly more resilient six months after completing the program.
Participants also reported significant increases in levels of mindfulness and optimism. Additionally, they developed better coping strategies and were more likely to reach out for support. Read the full results.
Research shows that mindfulness delivers a range of benefits. It can improve attention, reduce stress and help protect against many common mental health conditions. With the right guidance, anyone can learn mindfulness. Just a short session each day can make a very noticeable difference.
Those who begin practising mindfulness regularly often find that they are more present. They can also manage their emotions effectively and enjoy better relationships with friends, family and colleagues.
Small business owners and their employees who would like to learn simple, practical strategies to help increase resilience and improve mindfulness to help better manage challenging situations and stress.
The past two years have proven extremely challenging for Victorian small businesses. We hope that many small business owners and employees will spend some time prioritising their own mental wellbeing and pick up some valuable new skills.
If you have a technical issue with Mindarma, please reach out to the Mindarma technical team at info@mindarma.com. Please provide specific details of the technical issue and they’ll get back to you.
The Mindarma program is currently used by workers in some of the world’s most challenging roles including Ambulance Victoria and many of Australia’s other emergency service agencies.
The program is also supporting frontline medical workers, journalists, lawyers, teachers, community service workers and many others across a range of roles with unique stressors and challenges.
This program is designed for people who are busy. Each session takes just 15 minutes to complete and if you need to dash, you can easily return to where you left off the next time you use the online program. Most people who complete Mindarma view it a lot like going to the gym – instead of training their bodies, they’re training their minds.
Visit the Mindarma website to register. Please note, places are limited, so we encourage you to act early to avoid disappointment. We hope you enjoy the program and find it of real benefit.
There are a number of free programs and resources for small business owners and their employees that can be accessed through Business Victoria’s Workplace Wellbeing hub, including the Partners in Wellbeing program providing access to wellbeing, business advisory and financial counselling services.