Summit launched to address growing social sector mental health risks
Benefolk today announced the launch of the Benefolk Workplace Wellbeing Summit 2025, an online series designed to help not-for-profits, charities and social enterprises strengthen their workplace culture, improve staff wellbeing and build resilient teams.
The launch coincides with a significant milestone for Benefolk’s Social Sector-focused The Community Well resource hub, which has reached over 10,000 unique users since its launch in October 2023.
The Summit will run from 29 August to 17 September 2025, featuring 12 lunchtime sessions delivered by sector experts who will share practical strategies, case studies and tools that organisations can apply immediately to create positive, supportive workplace environments.
Benefolk CEO and Founder Julia Keady said the event comes at a critical time as the sector grapples with workforce fatigue, talent shortages and rising mental health concerns.
“We know that our sector has the highest mental health injury claims, at 19%, alongside Health Care (Safe Work Australia). Our people are at greater risk now more than ever as demand keeps being pushed up from cost of living and rolling disasters.
“The Summit is designed to equip organisation leaders of all sizes with knowledge and tools to be better informed of their obligations, create a strategy to enhance workplace wellbeing and have the resources for the year ahead to best support themselves and their teams.”
“We are delighted to be partnering with the Institute of Community Directors Australia and Justice Connect, who will be looking at Wellbeing Governance and sharing the latest legal changes that NFPs need to be aware of – especially changes to Victorian legislation that will impact thousands of organisations.”
The official Summit launch session — “Sector Wellbeing Deficit – Where to from here?” — is on Friday, 29 August 2025 and is free to attend. This thought-provoking session will explore whether the sector is succeeding, lagging or failing in improving the mental health of the people who turn up to work and volunteer every day. It will highlight promising signs of progress and discuss what we need to start and stop doing to truly shift the wellbeing dial.
The session will feature:
- An address from The Hon. Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Charities, sharing insights from his vantage point in the Federal Government;
- The latest wellbeing research findings from the Institute of Community Directors Australia; and
- A panel discussion designed by Sarah Davies, Chair, ACNC Advisory Board, with panel members:
- Denise Cheng, Co-Chair, Pay What It Takes and National Manager, Active Philanthropy, Equity Trustees;
- Adele Stowe-Lindner, Executive Director, Institute of Community Directors Australia;
- Ryan Ginard, Head of Sector Development and Innovation, Minderoo Foundation;
- Ben Vasiliou, CEO, The Man Cave Project and winner, inaugural Wellbeing Governance Award 2023.
The Summit’s sessions will cover a broad range of topics including:
Workplace inclusion: Designing for belonging;
- Attracting and retaining a great paid and volunteer workforce;
- Mental illness and injuries: Healthy work, recovery at work and return to work;
- How to combat dysfunction and toxicity;
- Addressing vicarious trauma and supporting frontline workers;
- Embedding psychological safety and inclusive practices; and
- Strengthening emerging leaders and their resilience.
In addition, the Summit features two dedicated sessions on The Community Well — Benefolk’s resource hub that provides more than 100 free tools and guides to help not-for-profits strengthen workplace wellbeing. These sessions will showcase how organisations can best use these practical, accessible resources to support their teams and build thriving workplaces.
Benefolk acknowledges the generous support of The Ian Potter Foundation for making this Wellbeing Summit possible and to the broader philanthropy sector for backing The Community Well, including The Ian Potter Foundation and Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation.
Tickets and access:
Individual sessions: $40 each (except the Launch Session, which is free for all to attend)
Summit Pass: Sliding scale from $159 to $359 depending on organisation size — includes access to all session recordings and presentations
Expert Bar online consult: Add a 60-minute Expert Bar consultation to follow up 1:1 with presenters. Presenters are also available to book anytime directly via Benefolk Expert Bar.
Grantmakers / Funders: Interested in gifting or subsidising a Summit Pass for organisations you care about? Please contact our Foundation Manager: annette@benefolk.org
For more information and to register, visit: https://events.humanitix.com/benefolk-workplace-wellbeing-summit-2025
Media enquiries:
Benefolk News Team – news@benefolk.org
