DEWC Services strengthens employee wellbeing through long-standing partnership with Healthy Minds

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DEWC Services has marked six years of partnering with the Healthy Minds Program, embedding mental wellbeing into daily operations. Through practical, evidence-based tools, the program helps employees build resilience, manage stress and thrive because supporting the people behind the mission is just as important as the mission itself.

DEWC Services, Australia’s leading specialist in C4ISREW (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare), is reaffirming its commitment to employee mental wellbeing through its six-year partnership with the Healthy Minds Program.

Operating within an increasingly complex Defence environment, DEWC’s work demands unwavering focus, technical precision and a high degree of mental resilience. Recognising these pressures, the company has gone beyond traditional professional development to invest in long-term mental health strategies for its workforce.

Since 2019, DEWC has collaborated with the Healthy Minds Program, an evidence-based initiative developed by award-winning clinical psychologist Dr Tom Nehmy. Focused on preventive psychology, the program equips employees with practical tools to manage stress, build resilience and maintain lasting mental fitness.

“It’s not about reacting to burnout—it’s about avoiding it altogether,” said Deb Penaluna, General Manager – People and Culture at DEWC Services.

“We know the cognitive load our team carries. That’s why we go beyond surface-level perks and have embedded mental wellbeing into our operations.

“We also recognise that mental health doesn’t stop at the office door, so we offer opportunities for employees to recharge and sometimes involve their spouses in wellbeing initiatives, strengthening support networks beyond the workplace,” Penaluna said.

This integration includes the use of the Healthy Minds Wellbeing Wheel that helps staff reflect on key components of mental health. It features prominently in employee reviews, team meetings and executive discussions creating a culture where open, constructive dialogue around mental wellbeing is both normalised and encouraged.

Dr Nehmy explained that the program is grounded in practical, evidence-based tools and teaches skills such as realistic thinking, resilience, psychological flexibility and self-awareness. It is designed to build long-term mental fitness.

“These are skills that can be learned and applied every day,” he said. “When consistently developed, they help individuals manage stress more effectively, think clearly under pressure and maintain mental wellbeing over the long term.”

Dr Nehmy praised DEWC’s forward-thinking approach, noting its leadership in a high-performance sector.

“DEWC understands that when you’re asking people to think at a high level every day, their mental health can’t be left to chance,” he said.

“Our partnership works because it’s not a one-off intervention; it’s a long-term strategy. They’ve created an environment where psychological wellbeing is part of their operational DNA,” Dr Nehmy said.

By prioritising wellbeing as a core part of how it operates, DEWC Services continues to set a benchmark for what genuine, long-term investment in employee wellbeing looks like – empowering the people behind the mission with the tools they need to thrive.

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