On 18 July 2025, the EAPA-SA Western Cape Chapter proudly participated in the Higher Education Institution Mental Health Seminar, hosted at the University of the Western Cape’s School of Public Health. Focused on the theme “Neurodiversity and Disability in Higher Education”, the seminar brought together thought leaders, academics, and wellness professionals to address inclusion, support, and mental health in the tertiary education space. The programme featured thought-provoking presentations, including a keynote by Prof. Anita Padmanabhanunni on “Re- Imagining Resilience: Mental Health, Disability, and Inclusion in Higher Education”, and expert talks from Ms. Vuyokazi Dwane and Dr Charlotte Kasiringua “Best Practices for creating neuro-diverse friendly working spaces who shared best practices for building neuro-inclusive institutions and disability-friendly support strategies.
Delegates included professionals from the University of the Western Cape, University of Stellenbosch, and Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). The event featured key discussions on:
- Disability management and mental health in academic environments
- Faculty and administrative roles in employee mental health
- Best practices for inclusive, neurodiverse workplaces
- Legal frameworks, including mental health legislation, declaration processes, and reasonable accommodation obligations—critical elements that align with EAPA-SA’s Governance objective.
As part of our contribution, the EAPA Western Cape Committee hosted an information stand, actively engaging attendees with our one-pagers and chapter activity summaries. We used this opportunity to market the value of EAPA-SA, highlight the benefits of membership, and promote our work in the employee assistance field. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing interests in becoming members and collaborating with the Chapter.
This initiative speaks directly to our strategic objectives:
This engagement supported several of our key strategic objectives:
- Chapter Growth: Expanding our reach through direct engagement with professionals from academia.
- Strategic Partnerships: Building collaborative relationships with key institutions in the higher education space.
- Governance: Promoting awareness around mental health legislation, declaration processes, and the importance of reasonable accommodation in compliance with institutional policy and law.
We extend our sincere thanks to the event organizers for the opportunity to participate and contribute. EAPA Western Cape remains committed to advancing ethical, inclusive, and impactful employee assistance practices across sectors-starting with the spaces where learning and leadership are shaped.
