Allianz Australia has launched a community program focused on mental resilience and social connection in regions affected by natural disasters.
The insurer has introduced “Allianz Community Care,” a framework that brings together its community partnerships to support the longer-term recovery of communities affected by floods, bushfires, and other natural catastrophes. The initiative sits alongside traditional insurance activities such as claims management and immediate disaster response. To start the program, Allianz has named Outside the Locker Room (OTLR) as its first partner. OTLR provides mental health education through sporting clubs, workplaces, and community groups. Under the arrangement, OTLR is expected to run more than 100 workshops across Australia, including in locations that have recently experienced natural disasters. The workshops will cover topics such as stress management, stigma reduction, and pathways to formal and informal support.
Libby Davidson, chief general manager, corporate affairs and governance at Allianz Australia, said the program is intended to formalise and expand the insurer’s mental health-related work with communities. “I am delighted to announce the launch of our new Allianz Community Care program. At Allianz, we believe that delivering true care to communities goes beyond just being there when disaster strikes – it’s about supporting communities in the long term. Mental health and social connection are fundamental to resilience, and ensuring communities have access to support and resources to aid both their physical and psychological recovery is essential,” Davidson said.
Davidson added: “Through our partnership with Outside the Locker Room, we’re committed to creating safe spaces where people can connect, share their experiences, and access the support they need to build their mental resilience. This partnership shows our dedication to not just protecting what matters to our customers but actively strengthening our communities. Sport also has a unique power to build connection, particularly in communities hit by natural disasters, which is why we're making sure our partnership reaches sporting clubs and local businesses in these communities to support their long-term recovery.” Workshops under the Allianz Community Care program began in April 2026, and Allianz has indicated that it plans to add further partnerships over time.
The launch comes against a backdrop of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data tracking psychological distress as part of the national “Measuring What Matters” framework. The mental health indicator monitors psychological distress among adults as one measure of population wellbeing. It uses the Kessler 10 (K10) Psychological Distress Scale for the general adult population and the Kessler 5 (K5) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.
According to the National Health Survey, 14.3% of people aged 18 and over experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress in 2022, compared with 10.8% in 2011-12. The 2020-22 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing reported that about 17% of people aged 16-85 had high or very high distress during the COVID-19 period. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, the 2022-23 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey found that 30.2% experienced high or very high psychological distress in the previous four weeks, with little change over the past decade. Distress levels were higher among women than men and higher in non-remote areas than in remote regions.
From 2026, the ABS plans to update the psychological distress indicator annually using an expanded General Social Survey. That will provide insurers, regulators, and policymakers with more frequent data on mental health trends by age group, sex, and remoteness category. These data sets are relevant for product design, pricing, and claims management in lines such as workers’ compensation, income protection and group life, as well as catastrophe and community risk planning. Persistent psychological distress can influence recovery durations, return-to-work outcomes, and demand for psychosocial support services after insured events.
As part of Allianz Community Care, Allianz is working with Phoenix Australia, described by the company as a national centre for post-traumatic mental health, to help shape the program’s structure and alignment with recognised disaster recovery practice. Phoenix Australia will advise Allianz and OTLR on how their activities can fit within broader health and community service systems. Todd Morgan, CEO of OTLR, said the partnership builds on the organisation’s existing work with community sports and business groups. “We’re excited to be partnering with Allianz and Phoenix Australia. Building mental resilience is at the heart of what we do at OTLR, so working with Allianz to deliver over 100 mental health workshops is a perfect fit. We can’t wait to get started and take our workshops to communities right across the country,” Morgan said.
The program illustrates how mental health literacy, social connection, and local partnerships are being incorporated into catastrophe and recovery strategies. As extreme weather events continue to drive physical damage and business interruption claims, insurers are placing more attention on the mental health aspects of recovery, including the roles of employers, clubs, and community organisations in supporting policyholders and claimants.
