5 ways Qudos Bank supports mental wellbeing all year round

In the lead-up to World Mental Health Day on October 10th, we’re looking at some of the ways Qudos Bank supports our staff and customers’ health and well-being.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 42% of Australians aged between 16 and 85 have experienced a mental health disorder at some stage in their life. That’s why World Mental Health Day is so important. As a community-focused, customer-owned bank, Qudos Bank prioritises and supports a range of mental health initiatives year-round.  

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Foodbank Australia

Food insecurity can be a major source of mental distress, and unfortunately it’s increasingly affecting the community. According to a recent Salvation Army survey, 85% of Australian respondents say they’ve experienced some level of food insecurity in the last year. It’s one reason why we’ve been a proud, long-time supporter of Food Bank Australia.

Food Bank sources enough food to make over 92 million meals a year, distributing these to some of Australia’s most at-risk and disadvantaged families. We’re happy to assist however we can, with many of our employees taking their allocated volunteer leave to support this important cause. This year, Qudos Bank employees helped pack 14 pallets (including 840 hampers, totalling 19,656 meals) as part of Food Bank’s Christmas food drive, and our team generously donated various essential items to help struggling Australian families during the festive season.  

Learn more about how you can support Food Bank Australia here.

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Employee Assistance Program

Our employees' health and wellbeing are always a priority. That’s why every Qudos Bank staff member has access to a dedicated Employee Assistance Program, which includes mental health resources like EAP counselling, psychological risk management, and onsite support.

Given the well-established links between physical and mental health, we also offer staff members free influenza vaccinations and yearly skin checks, a dedicated fitness passport program, plus access to an onsite gym. Our philosophy is: a happy, healthy workforce equals a happy, healthy bank. And we’ll continue to provide the best possible care for our teams.

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Wellbeing grants for employees

The Qudos Wellbeing Grants program is a staff initiative we are particularly proud of. It allows employees to unlock a one-time financial payment to put it towards their personal wellbeing goals. This initiative is designed to ease immediate pressures, promote resilience within the team, and help our staff focus on what matters most – their wellbeing, their family and their mental health.

Employees are free to use their Wellbeing Grant on any legitimate physical or mental health program. Whether it’s a gym membership or more specialised counselling sessions, the idea is to give our people the flexibility – and the confidence – to take their wellbeing into their own hands.  

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Financial literacy content

Financial concerns and mental health are inextricably linked. This is why we work to promote financial literacy with and for our customers. The better people understand their money, the better they can manage it. Studies have shown that improving your financial literacy significantly enhances both your physical and mental health. It’s a literal load off your shoulders.

So how does this work at Qudos Bank? It starts with our straightforward banking products and strong customer support, which are designed to build confidence. We also provide a range of free online calculators and useful tools to offer support in this area. We’re also building a comprehensive library of articles and videos to help our members make more empowered financial decisions.

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