Winning strategy for state safety award

29 October 2009

The Youth Justice Custodial Services branch within the Department of Human Services has taken out the Award for Best Strategy for Health and Safety Management in this year’s prestigious WorkSafe Victoria Awards.

They were presented with their Award in front of almost 800 people at Crown Palladium.

Youth Justice Custodial Services were up against one other organisation for the Best Strategy for Health and Safety Management Award, which acknowledges the various ways organisations manage and improve workplace health and safety.

The strategy that saw them through to the finals and on to take the title is the Clinical Group Supervision program which aims to reduce the risk of stress, vicarious trauma and burnout among staff.

This involves a strategy to provide a facilitated clinical environment where youth justice workers are supported to deal with a range of issues encountered in their work.

Each session gives staff the opportunity to discuss critical incidents, cumulative or organisational stressors and interpersonal conflicts.

The program supports staff and management to develop strategies to influence positive health and safety changes in the workplace.

It has had a positive impact on reducing stress and improving health and safety outcomes.

WorkSafe’s Executive Director, Health and Safety, John Merritt, said the Award recipients, as well as all of the finalists, should be extremely proud of their achievements.

“We commend all the finalists for their strong commitment to creating safer working environments.

“The Awards are about recognising these people and acknowledging that with initiative and commitment health and safety improvements can be achieved.

“No matter what the industry or field, progress occurs through people who believe that things can be done differently and better.

“We want every Victorian worker to return home safely every day and each Award recipient and finalist is helping us achieve this important goal, “Mr Merritt said.

Recipients of 2009 WorkSafe Victoria Awards

There were 118 entries in the Awards this year with 19 entries going through to the final round. From these, six overall Awards recipients were selected.

• Health and Safety Representative of the Year - Phyl Hilton from Toyota Motor Corporation
• Health and Safety Committee of the Year - RMIT - School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
• Best Solution to a Health and Safety Risk - Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE (BRIT)
• Best Solution for Preventing Musculoskeletal Injuries - Cherry Constructions and Workright Safety Solutions
• Best Strategy for Health and Safety Management -Youth Justice Custodial Services - Department of Human Services
• Best Design for Workplace Safety - Racing Victoria, Dan Mawby and Delta-V Experts

Youth Justice Custodial Services DHS contact: Alex Kamenev, 03 9096 8239