A healthy change: Stockland’s commitment to mental wellness in logistics

We believe that great performance in logistics comes from both what we do and the environment we create. This is especially true when it comes to people working in our logistics centres, where mental health and wellbeing have been proven to be important to both performance and retention. 

The relationship between logistic spaces and workforce wellbeing 
Understanding how our logistic spaces impact workforce wellbeing is an important focus for the industry. Research from Monash University highlights some concerning statistics about the health of male Australian logistics workers, predicting over $2.6 billion in lost productivity over the next decade. Globally, the logistics industry saw a 42% increase in time taken off work between the first half of 2019 and the first half of 2022, with an 18% increase in costs due to mental health-related absences. These numbers show just how urgent it is to support mental health and wellbeing in our sector. Importantly, studies also show that investing in mental health pays off through better productivity, attraction, and retention of staff1. 

Partnering to make a difference: Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds 
But we can’t do it alone. We’ve partnered with Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds (Healthy Heads) – a non-profit started by industry leaders to tackle the mental health and physical wellbeing needs of Australia’s transport, warehousing, and logistics sector. By delivering events, health checks, and tailored programs, Healthy Heads is working to create a culture where logistics workers feel safe seeking help. 

Naomi Frauenfelder, CEO of Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, explains the logistics and distribution industry faces several overlapping risk factors across different roles, whether it's truck drivers covering great distances in isolation or team members handling tasks like picking and packing in distribution centres. 

“The nature of shift work and the repetitive nature of tasks often leads to challenges such as fatigue and lack of focus. These elements can have a real impact on safety and productivity, highlighting the importance of proactive measures to ensure the wellbeing of everyone involved,” says Naomi.   

Partnerships with logistics asset owners help Healthy Heads to reach more people and deliver resources, initiatives, and campaigns to raise awareness, meet the needs of employees, and address some of the challenges they face.  

“This partnership marks an exciting step forward for Healthy Heads. A key part of our value lies in raising awareness among tenants and tenant employees of groups like Stockland, which can help us reach people who may not yet be familiar with Healthy Heads.  

“Success is every person working in the industry knowing about Healthy Heads and feeling empowered to access support. Expanding our reach is one of the biggest challenges we face, and partnerships like this are essential to overcoming it,” says Naomi.  

Bringing the vision to life 
Amanda Elgammal, Stockland’s Head of Property Management for Logistics, confirms it’s all about the need to shift perspectives to better support our tenants and their employees.  

“Enhancing social impact is a key pillar of our ESG strategy, and we’re focusing on more meaningful ways to engage both tenants and their employees. Initiatives like R U OK? Day and deeper conversations with our tenants are crucial in helping us better understand their needs and how we can provide stronger support,” Amanda says.  

Inspired by a better way to live, our ESG strategy prioritises innovation, scalability, and sustainable economic solutions. We're committed to creating over $1 billion in social value by 2030, focusing on initiatives that genuinely impact communities and make a lasting difference. 

“Our new developments are improving onsite facilities for truck drivers and workers and creating communal spaces, like cafes and green areas, to enhance the overall experience for logistics workers – like the rooftop terrace in our first multi-level development Momenta in Sydney.  

“There’s a strong link between a positive workplace environment, employee wellbeing, and increased productivity. Supporting psychological and mental health is crucial to ensuring employees are in the right state of mind to perform their best at work every day,” says Amanda.  

“We recognise the challenges of staying connected with employees in this industry, with shift work and high staff turnover adding complexity. However, that doesn’t stop us from envisioning a future where mental and physical health are valued just as much as safety.” 

R U OK? – more than just a day 
A key priority is providing year-round support for all workers. This year’s message from R U OK?, a national suicide prevention charity, ‘Ask R U OK? Any Day’, reinforces the idea that life happens every day and encourages conversations any day of the year.  

We understand the importance of continually supporting and engaging with both our tenants and their employees, and this ongoing commitment is key to creating a culture where mental health is a priority, and everyone feels supported every day.  

Mental Health Month in October is another initiative where we host impactful events to engage both our tenants and employees as well as providing valuable insights on how to better engage their workforce. 

Our new partnership with Healthy Heads builds on our events and is the next step we’re making to create safer, more supportive working environments. We are excited to be part of R U OK? In Trucks & Sheds next year.  

The journey has just begun 
While our commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing in the logistics industry is evident, we recognise this is just the beginning. By understanding the vital connection between well-designed logistic spaces and workforce wellbeing, we’re addressing a key factor in enhancing business performance.  

We invite not just our tenants, but the broader industry, to join us on this important journey. 

If you’d like to learn more about these initiatives and how we're bringing them to life at our facilities, please reach out to your local team. Together, by prioritising mental health and fostering supportive environments, we can create a healthier, more productive future for the logistics industry. 

1 Healthy heads: improving mental health in the logistics industry (link)