In the same way a business prepares for physical emergencies with fire evacuation drills or first aid kits, it must also prepare for psychological emergencies. A Trauma Response Plan (TRP) is the psychosocial equivalent of an incident response plan – and increasingly, it’s becoming a legislative and moral necessity.

When we think about workplace health and safety, our minds often go straight to employees, contractors, or maybe even volunteers. But what about visitors? People who pop in briefly, attend a meeting, drop off a parcel, or tour your facility? Under Australian WHS laws, visitors have a right to be safe – and businesses have a legal duty to protect them.

The Victorian Department of Education has taken a meaningful step in acknowledging the rise in work-related violence from student behaviour—with a staggering 46.7% increase reported over the last decade. Following an audit, the Department has adopted four key recommendations aimed at better managing this risk in the workplace.The Victorian Department of Education has taken a meaningful step in acknowledging the rise in work-related violence from student behaviour,with a stagg

In safety, we often focus on physical hazards, equipment, procedures, permits, and compliance. But what about the invisible injuries that walk onto site each day? Trauma-informed counselling is a framework that recognises the widespread impact of trauma and understands how it can affect behaviour, decision-making, relationships, and risk perception. For safety professionals, understanding this approach isn't just relevant, it’s critical.

Psychosocial hazards are complex, varied and deeply personal. They don’t operate like physical hazards. You can’t engineer your way out of a toxic workplace culture with a checklist and a wellness webinar.

Mental health and safety are deeply connected. Poor mental health can lead to poor decision-making, lack of concentration, and increased likelihood of errors or incidents. On the other side, high-risk workplaces, unclear expectations, poor job design, or lack of support can create or worsen mental health issues.

The new psychosocial legislation mandates that businesses actively identify and manage psychosocial hazards—such as workplace bullying