Psychological Safety in the Workplace

Course information

In a world where mental health concerns are increasingly prevalent, fostering a psychologically safe workplace has never been more crucial. According to the ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, a staggering 2 in 5 Australians have experienced a mental health condition at some point in their lives. Recent reports from Safe Work Australia further underscore the urgency of this issue:

• Mental health conditions accounted for 9% of all serious workers’ compensation claims, a 36.9% increase since 2017-18.
• The median time lost was more than 4 times greater than that of all physical injuries and illnesses.
• The median compensation paid for mental health conditions was more than 3 times greater than that of all physical injuries and illnesses.

Allara Global's new course is designed to equip learners with a deeper understanding and enhanced capability to address psychosocial hazards in the workplace. Psychological safety in the workplace is about ensuring that everyone feels comfortable, respected, and able to share their thoughts without fear. It's about creating an environment where people can speak up, ask questions, and contribute their ideas without worrying about negative consequences. This helps teams work together and promotes a positive atmosphere.

This course explores how to:

• Describe mental health and well-being concerns in the workplace.
• Understand the specific duties associated with each role in the business.
• Identify different common psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
• Understand different strategies and tools to help you manage psychosocial risks.

By prioritising psychological safety, we not only create a workplace where everyone feels heard and valued but also contribute to overall well-being and productivity.

Applicable legislation

In April 2023, important changes to Commonwealth work health and safety laws came into place.

For the first time, the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 prescribe how employers must identify and manage hazards and risks to workers’ psychological health and safety.

The amended Work Health and Safety Regulations prescribe how duty holders must identify and manage hazards and risks to workers’ psychological health and safety.

Organisations need to consider and review approaches to managing psychosocial risks and fostering mentally healthy workplaces. This includes engaging and consulting with workers.