NewAccess for Small Business Owners

What is NewAccess for Small Business Owners?

Why have we set up a program specifically for small business owners? 

Running a small business is a unique experience which can involve stress and pressure coming from many directions. If left unaddressed, these demands can sometimes place you at risk of severe or longer-lasting mental health challenges. 

 We understand you may feel obliged to work when unwell, take work home or find it difficult to justify allocating time for yourself, let alone for your mental health. And there are always many barriers that can make seeking help difficult, such as:  

- stigma 
- cost  
- lack of time  
- limited availability of services during business hours and in convenient locations, and prioritisation of business over self.    

Understandably, a lot of small business owners are reporting that COVID-19 has negatively affected their mental health.   

To address this need, Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners program aims to provide a much needed and practical support option for you. 

How does this program differ from the general NewAccess program? 

• While NewAccess for Small Business Owners is based on the same evidence-based and proven model as Beyond Blue’s NewAccess program for the general population, all coaches for the  small business owners program have a background in small business, putting them in a good position to understand the small business context, including the unique challenges faced by small business owners. 
  It is available across Australia in all regions via telehealth. 

How is the program funded and supported? 

This program is funded by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and delivered by Richmond Fellowship Queensland (RFQ).   

The initiative was jointly conceived by Beyond Blue and the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO), responding to rising calls for a dedicated mental health support service for small business owners.

How long will NewAccess for small business owners be available? 

The national telehealth program will initially be available for a period of 12 months from March 2021 to March 2022.

Who is it for?

NewAccess for Small Business Owners is for anyone aged 18 or over who owns a small business. For the purposes of program eligibility, a small business is defined as ≤ 20 employees. 

 A person is not eligible for the program if they are: 

- currently seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist 
- dealing with severe/complex mental health issues. 

 An initial assessment conducted by a clinically supervised Coach is used to identify if  NewAccess for Small Business Owners is the most appropriate service to support your mental health needs.   

Please note, if your symptoms or condition are found to be too severe or complex for this program, you will be referred to a more appropriate service or back to a GP. 

Why it works 

NewAccess has been operating for several years in Australia, starting with a pilot phase in 2013-2016. Independent research and evaluations have confirmed its efficacy and ability to be scaled as a low intensity early intervention service.  

 Based on the UKs Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) model, the NewAccess model is adaptable for particular settings and populations. Evidence tells us the NewAccess program is effective. The average recovery rate for general population services is 70 per cent. The Comcare workplace pilot, which supported participants to deal with common issues like work-related stress, achieved a recovery rate of 78 per cent. 

Importantly, NewAccess is designed to appeal to people who might not otherwise seek support for their mental health and to provide support early, preventing symptoms from potentially getting worse.   

 The program avoids clinical language, does not require a doctor’s referral and is delivered by relatable coaches – in this case people who have owned their own small business – making it an ideal service for small business owners.  

More information about the NewAccess program