As well as addressing health and safety hazards, workplaces play an important role in promoting and cultivating healthy work environments for their employees. This areas of research analyses and tests workplace health promotion strategies.
WorkWell Essentials Pilot
Insights gathered by the WorkSafe WorkWell Team from small business owners revealed that while online resources such as WorkSafe Victoria’s WorkWell Toolkit were useful, business owners needed more direct and individualised support, especially for those with lower cultural maturity in understanding workplace psychosocial hazards.
On-demand Economy
Gig work, which is the basis of the digital platform, has evolved out of earlier industry practices which in the context of this report represents “short-term contracts mediated by digital platform businesses”.
WorkHealth evaluations
WorkHealth was a program of voluntary health checks designed to raise health awareness and support healthy lifestyle choices. It was followed by the WorkHealth Coach Program and the WorkHealth Improvement Network Project. By analysing the data collected through WorkHealth, we've been able to gain great insight into the health of Victoria's working population.
An integrated workplace mental health intervention in Victoria Police Research Report
This project evaluated the implementation and effectiveness of a workplace mental health intervention in Victoria Police. This intervention primarily focused on improving the supportive leadership practices of recruited station leaders. It was expected that improvements in supportive leadership would reduce job pressures in both junior and senior ranks.
Keywords: mental health; psychosocial factors; wellbeing; workplace stress; health literacy
Date published: July 2017
Effectiveness of prevention-focused, workplace health and safety campaigns Research Report
This worldwide review examined the effectiveness of mass media health and safety campaigns in shifting health and safety attitudes, knowledge and behaviour. The findings informed the development of WorkSafe Victoria’s multifaceted "Getting Back" campaign, launched in May 2015.
Keywords: occupational health and safety; OHS; workplace safety; behaviour change
Date published: June 2015
Developing an integrated approach to workplace mental health in Victoria Police Research Report
The research team sought to understand the level of mental health literacy in uniformed members of Victoria Police, and the strategies that could be implemented to address mental health in the workplace. This led to the development of an integrated approach to workplace mental health literacy in a policing context which seeks to simultaneously prevent stress and promote mental health at the primary and secondary levels.
Keywords: mental health; health literacy; psychosocial factors; work environment
Date published: May 2014
Incentive programs for new employers to hire previously-injured workers: A snapshot review Evidence Review
This review of the effectiveness of direct and indirect incentives to motivate employers to hire previously-injured workers was undertaken to inform the WorkSafe Incentive Scheme for Employers’ (WISE) program. The nature of the incentive programs, the implementation approaches, and the various implementation barriers encountered were reviewed. A number of incentive programs were found to exist, however there was significant variability in the incentives available and little definitive evidence of their effectiveness. Various employer and employee issues were identified which limited the up-take of the incentive programs (such as low awareness of the initiatives), which provides useful indications for why the uptake of the WISE program has not reached its potential.
Keywords: return to work; RTW
Date published: January 2014
Guidelines for the prevention of workplace mental health problems: Adaptation to the veterinary sector Guideline
Veterinarians have a higher risk of depression, anxiety, stress, burnout and suicide than the general population. This project used a workshop methodology to adapt existing prevention guidelines used in other sectors and develop new guidelines for the prevention of mental health problems in the veterinary sector. The new guidelines integrate both academic research into the cause of mental health issues and practical workplace issues.
Keywords: mental health; psychosocial factors; suicide; wellbeing; health literacy
Date published: October 2013
Exploring patient perceptions of barriers and facilitators of recovery following trauma Research Report
Through in-depth interviews of 120 survivors of serious injury in Victoria, factors that helped and hindered patient recovery were explored. The interviews provided a wealth of information about the participants’ experiences with the trauma system, their care and recovery. The narratives provided an unparalleled insight into the issues faced by injured participants as they attempt to recover, and provide valuable information for informing recommendations for trauma care in this state.
Keywords: persistent pain; health-related quality of life
Date published: April 2012
Conceptual models to guide psychosocial interventions in workplaces Research Report
This project identified useful frameworks to inform and guide interventions addressing psychosocial factors in workplaces. Several models were identified which attempt to explain the factors which influence psychosocial health and wellbeing in the workplace. In addition, several psychosocial health promotion models were identified which had informed the design of interventions internationally.
Keywords: psychosocial factors; mental health; physical health; wellbeing
Date published: October 2010
Shift Work in Healthcare Research Report
The healthcare industry is the second largest body of shift workers in Australia. This report is a focussed summary on the recent publications from Alertness, Safety and Productivity Cooperative Research Consortium on shift work in healthcare workers.
Keywords: healthcare; shift work; prevention; workplace; fatigue; sleep
Date published: February 2021
Assessing Psychosocial Safety Attitudes Research Report
Although psychological health and safety is an important issue for regulators, employers and employees, there is no reliable and valid brief suite of measures to assess the level of psychosocial health and safety attitudes and behaviours in the workplace. We will directly address this shortfall by providing WorkSafe Victoria with a psychometrically sound suite of leading indicator assessment tools that can be used as a diagnostic and screening protocol to target workplace interventions. Leveraging off recent initiatives in public health and the importance of the prevention of psychosocial risks (e.g., zero tolerance), we argue that attitude change is foundational for sustained positive psychosocial behaviour in the workplace.
Keywords: prevention; safety climate; wellbeing; psychosocial factors; mental health
Date published: October 2021
of OVA in healthcare Environmental Scan
Occupational Violence and Aggression (OVA) is a key hazard influencing mental and physical injury claims in Victorian health services. A range of interventions and risk controls exist to prevent or reduce harm from OVA, but limited published evidence exists on their effectiveness. There is also limited information on how these interventions are being used in health services and whether new or emerging controls are delivering improved results.
Keywords: prevention; OVA; occupational violence and aggression; intervention; health services; environmental scan
Date published: December 2023
Preventing Occupational Violence and Aggression in healthcare settings Research Summary Research Summary
Occupational Violence and Aggression (OVA) is a key hazard influencing mental and physical injury claims in Victorian health services. A range of interventions and risk controls exist to prevent or reduce harm from OVA, but limited published evidence exists on their effectiveness. There is also limited information on how these interventions are being used in health services and whether new or emerging controls are delivering improved results. ISCRR’s 2023 Environmental Scan identified interventions, risk controls and frameworks that have been implemented and evaluated in healthcare settings to prevent and manage OVA.
Keywords: prevention; environmental scan; occupational violence and aggression OVA; health services
Date published: October 2023
Preventing Burnout: Fatigue in Hospitals Evidence Review
Fatigue has been identified as a priority hazard in the new Health Care and Social Assistance (HCSA) Industry Strategy, 2020-23. Fatigue is a significant risk in the industry due to the high rates of shift work and work demands. Feedback from industry stakeholders indicates that fatigue is a significant issue in the industry that contributes to both physical and mental injuries.
Keywords: fatigue; prevention; hospital; healthcare; burnout