Mental health

Safe Work Australia has awarded the Centre for Transformative Work Design at Curtin University a grant valued at $373,762.

Safe Work Australia has published the first in a series of case studies focused on managing psychosocial hazards in various industries.

Related information:

Safe Work Australia has published a new report on workplace and work-related violence and aggression in Australia. 

Safe Work Australia’s research grant recipient, the Centre for Transformative Work Design at Curtin University, has completed their research to explore interventions to manage psychosocial risks in the aged care sector.

The model Code of Practice on sexual and gender-based harassment is intended to be read and applied alongside the model Code of Practice: Managing ps

Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must take a proactive approach to preventing racism and do all that they reasonably can to manage the risk of it occurring at work.

If you’re a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you have a duty under the model WHS laws to do all that you reasonably can to eliminate or minimise the risk of racism occurring at work.

Under the model WHS laws, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), such as an employer, must eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

Managing psychosocial risks at work is just as important as managing physical risks.

Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), such as employers, must eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

The first step in the risk management process is to identify the hazards.

Preventing psychological harm is an essential part of creating a healthy and safe workplace.

Under WHS laws, PCBUs must eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

Harmful behaviours are both a psychosocial and physical hazard. Exposure can cause psychological and physical harm.

A poor physical environment is both a psychosocial and physical hazard. Exposure can cause psychological and physical harm.

Remote or isolated work is both a psychosocial and physical hazard. Exposure can cause psychological and physical harm.

Exposure to traumatic events or materials is a psychosocial hazard. This means it can cause psychological and physical harm.

Poor organisational justice is a psychosocial hazard. This means it can cause psychological and physical harm.

Inadequate reward and recognition is a psychosocial hazard. This means it can cause psychological and physical harm.

Poor organisational change management is a psychosocial hazard. This means it can cause psychological and physical harm.

Lack of role clarity is a psychosocial hazard. This means it can cause psychological and physical harm.

Low job control is a psychosocial hazard. This means it can cause psychological and physical harm.

Poor support is a psychosocial hazard. This means it can cause psychological and physical harm.

Job demands that are too high or too low are a psychosocial hazard. This means they can cause psychological and physical harm. A job can include both high and low job demands.

Sole traders and small business owners can be both workers and PCBUs under WHS laws. 

WHS is about preventing workers being harmed at work. 

Everyone in the workplace has a work health and safety (WHS) duty.

The primary duty of care in the model WHS Act requires a PCBU to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, workers and other persons are not exposed to risks to their psychological or physical health and safety.

Watch Safe Work Australia CEO, Michelle Baxter deliver a keynote presentation at Comcare’s national forum on sexual harassment.

Under the model WHS laws, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must manage the risk of psychosocial hazards in the workplace.  

Professor Parker discusses the principles of good work design, why they are important, and how we can use them to make workplaces safer and improve workers’ wellbeing.

This infographic shows how to apply the four-step risk management process to manage psychosocial hazards.

Workplace bullying remains a serious problem in many Australian workplaces, costing individuals and organisations in poor productivity, absenteeism and mental stress. 

While we’ve come a long way in ensuring physical health and safety is a normal part of how we work, our next challenge is to ensure mental health is given the same priority.

When it comes to psychological health and safety, employers can often be confused about their responsibilities. They want to know how to address the legal requirements, what best practice is, and how they can address the risks.

Resources on workplace sexual harassment 

To meet your duties to ensure health and safety, you, as the PCBU, must eliminate or minimise the risk of sexual and gender-based harassment so far as is reasonably practicable. You can do this by applying the risk management in the same way you do for other hazards.

Most jobs involve some risk of sexual and gender-based harassment. This is a hazard and can cause both psychological and physical harm.

Resources on workplace mental health 

Psychosocial risks should be managed using the risk management process.

Everyone has a role in managing psychosocial risks. These duties are set out in the model WHS Act and model WHS Regulations.

Workers’ compensation coverage of psychological injuries 

Workers’ compensation is available for physical and psychological injury and disease. 

In 2018, the Australian Senate conducted an inquiry into the prevention, investigation and prosecution of industrial deaths in Australia, which highlighted the devastating personal, social and economic impacts on bereaved families.

Workplace violence and aggression is when a person is abused, threatened or assaulted at the workplace or while they’re working. 

Most jobs involve some risk of sexual and gender-based harassment. This is a hazard and can cause both psychological and physical harm.

Sitting for long periods of time is common in Australian workplaces.