Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) through its Culture Engagement and Wellness department has launched its mental wellbeing campaign – Wantok Yu Orait? – last Friday in Tabubil.
The campaign is part of the company’s approach to promoting mental health awareness to its workforce to maintain safety, performance, and positive culture.
Present at the event were managers, superintendents, and supervisors across the business who were provided with learning materials and guidelines to administer the ‘Wantok Yu Orait?’ program in their respective business units and departments.
Speaking at the event, OTML’s Manager Culture Engagement & Wellness Dr Hazel Harden stated that the materials for the campaign have been developed to deliver a high-impact health intervention.
She said, “We see people losing their jobs for medical reasons. We see families’ lives being turned upside-down. We have intentionally created a campaign with resources that are relatable to our diverse workforce.”
The campaign materials include steps on how to converse with a colleague facing mental issues, how to seek medical help, and tips to make individuals approachable for colleagues to confide in.
Dr Harden urged the team to actively practise ‘Wantok Yu Orait?’ steps with those around them to contribute to better safety, performance, a positive culture, and a strong community.
“Together, we can improve our safety at work, our ability to perform our jobs well in our family, community, and in Ok Tedi,” she said.
General Manager Projects Brendan Gowdie acknowledged the importance of the campaign and shared a personal experience of mental health not just being about visible struggles; it can also involve perceived threats or outcomes that exist only in our minds, sometimes preventing us from speaking up about our health and problems in and outside work—as I learnt all too painfully after losing a dear friend earlier this year, reminding us that we should never assume someone is okay.
He said, “This initiative is a vital step forward to creating supportive, inclusive, space, and mental health discussions”.
In line with the Company’s Growth 2050 Strategy, the focus on people’s development and wellbeing is crucial to ensure maximum productivity levels.
Plans are progressing to administer programs like the ‘Wantok Yu Orait’ campaign as well as other bigger projects like the new FIFO Village in Tabubil. This new FIFO village will create space for better lodging and recreational areas that will elevate employees’ mental wellbeing status and ensure they are healthy and fit for work to perform their roles to their maximum potential.
Mr Gowdie said, “Our people are our greatest asset and OTML is committed to ensuring our people are safe, healthy and able to actively contribute to safe operations while delivering to our stakeholders.”