Psychological Health and Safety in Healthcare and Social Assistance (webinar)

Webinar details

Healthcare and social assistance workers play a critical role in supporting the wellbeing of others, yet they also experience some of the highest levels of psychosocial risk in the workplace. This webinar brings together expertise from WorkSafe’s Psychological Health Specialist Team and Strategic Operations – Health and Social Assistance Team to explore the key psychological health challenges facing the sector and the insights gained through WorkSafe’s regulatory activities. Drawing on frontline regulatory experience, industry engagement, inspections and stakeholder interactions, presenters will discuss common psychosocial hazards affecting healthcare and social assistance workers, including exposure to aggression or violence and high job demands. The session will examine how these hazards can affect worker psychological health and the factors that contribute to increased risk in a range of healthcare and community service settings.

The webinar will also highlight employer duties under Victoria’s occupational health and safety legislation, the Psychological Health Regulations, and outline WorkSafe’s expectations for managing psychological health and safety risks in the workplace.

Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of sector-specific psychosocial hazards and practical considerations for strengthening prevention and supporting worker wellbeing.

Speakers

Perdita Dickson

Senior Manager Strategic Operations Healthcare and Social Assistance, WorkSafe Victoria

With over 20 years as a safety leader Perdita has worked in heavy manufacturing, healthcare and as a regulator. Joining WorkSafe as a senior occupational hygiene specialist inspector Perdita is now leading the integrated industry pilot in the health and social assistance industries.  This brings together compliance and enforcement activities and strategic programs with the aim of delivering a specialised industry approach to these complex industries.   

Charlotte Brunner

Principal Psychological Health and Safety Specialist, WorkSafe Victoria

Charlotte is a registered Psychologist with a background in Organisational and Human Factors Psychology, and has experience working in a number of high risk industries including Defence and Law Enforcement. At Worksafe, she contributed to the development of the OHS (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025, the Compliance Code (Psychological Health), WorkSafe non-statutory guidance, and she is also an appointed Inspector under the OHS Act 2004 and supports operational work including workplace inspections, investigations, and more.