The Australian Psychological Services has provided some excellent advice on what to look out for when arranging speakers for October, which is both Mental Health Month and National Safe Work Month.
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Audio summary of employer accountability article
In this 5-minute episode, I question the common narratives that shift the focus to affordability and government intervention, emphasising the fundamental obligation of employers to protect their workers. I explore the role of media in shaping public perception and highlight the importance of bringing occupational health and safety professionals to the forefront of discussions. By shifting the narrative, we can move towards sustainable, effective solutions that improve worker safety.
This is a summary of a longer and more detailed SafetyAtWorkBlog article from July 2025.
The Seductiveness of Action Without Change
The challenge in addressing psychosocial hazards at work comes not from the dangers posed but from the executives’ willingness to change. Recently, David Burroughs reflected on his years of advising executives on this hazard. Burroughs’ experience of corporate responses to workplace bullying is indicative of the challenge of organisational change.
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Audio summary of suicidality article
For those of you who follow my blog posts but are not prepared to pay a SafetyAtWorkBlog subscription (you know who you are đ), I have produced a daily audio summary of a blog article for the next few days to entice you to subscribe.
The first audio summary is now available, discussing the often-overlooked human impact of workplace incidents and the institutional blind spots that perpetuate harm and contribute to suicidality. This is based on a text article published earlier this month.
If this article has raised issues you would like to discuss with a support person in Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or through the website.
Why are the bossesâ knickers in a twist over work-from-home?
Two major Australian media outlets are continuing to focus on the issue of working from home (WFH), criticising the concept and some local political moves. WFH offers some significant mental health benefits that are being largely ignored. The front page of The Australian newspaper for September 1, 2025, provides the latest example.
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When Safety is Misunderstood
Discussion about workplace psychosocial hazards seems to be everywhere. This is a good thing, as everyone needs a better understanding of the risks workers face and what prevention mechanisms are expected from employers and business owners. But that discussion needs to be measured and accurate. A recent article written about this issue for accountants is slightly inaccurate about occupational health and safety (OHS).
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Who Gets to Be Called a Leader
Lisa Leong has followed up her This Working Life podcast with a more detailed look at the practicalities of addressing work-related psychosocial hazards with Dr Laura Kirby. It is worth listening to, but there is a term repeated in the podcast that needs examining – “leader”.
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