Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Psych Health and Safety Podcast

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle welcome Professor Rob Briner of Queen Mary University of London back to the podcast for the third time. Rob shares what the research says about performance management as a high-risk process for psychosocial harm, prompted by the Comcare prosecution of the Department of Defence. We chat about why people often “under-perform” because they lack good-quality feedback and the resources to improve, why many practices we call performance feedback aren’t really feedback, the five conditions that have to be in place for feedback to work, and what it takes to move from policy to practice, including early warning signs and knowing when to pause a process and refer for support. https://www.crforum.co.uk/crf-work-psychology-network/

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Jessica Stacey, Manager, Prevention Education and Training at icare NSW. Jess shares icare's research into how leaders influence psychosocial safety across the workers compensation journey, from prevention through to recovery and return to work. We chat about the Notice, Nurture, Navigate framework that helps leaders turn psychosocial hazards into everyday decisions, why delayed reporting of psychological injury claims costs so much, and how the Connect and Care pilot gave leaders the confidence to stay connected with injured workers.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle recap the 2026 Psych Health and Safety Conference (PHSCON), sharing their recollections, insights, and favourite moments. They share background about why FlourishDx decided to run a conference, and share a sneak peek into plans for the next PHSCON - returning to Sydney on 1-2 September 2027.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Adam Jadresic, General Manager Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Greencross Pet Wellness Company. Adam shares his experiences in applying the BowTie methodology to psychosocial risk management. We chat about how the method can be used to improve consultation, broaden our perspectives of a risk scenario, and deepen our understanding of control effectiveness and failure potential.

In this episode hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Mason Gismondi, Head of Culture and Psychosocial Safety at Bupa. We discuss the decision to relocate the Culture function with the Psychosocial Safety at Bupa, and what that looks like for how the business understands and responds to engagement data.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Keith Govias, Workplace Safety and Risk Principal at EML Group. Keith joins us to chat about three items from EML’s Research program for mental health. The PIEF Award winning 2025 Mental Health White Paper with Monash University, Workplace Microaggression research with Griffith University from last year and a 2026 Superannuation White Paper which revisits the Monash and Melbourne Uni work from the Collaborative Partnership for Improving Return to Work Participation.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle welcome Megan Hunter, Senior Advisor for Psychological Health and Safety at ACCO. They explore differences in approach to PHS between Canada and Australia. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in promoting mental well-being at work, with insights into how different regions are adopting standards and practices. Anyone interested in the bike movie Megan mentioned can view it here: https://www.ridetoresilience.ca/

In this episode, this group of some of the world’s foremost experts on psychological health and safety are back to share their observations about the field. This reunion is intended to serve as a check to see what has changed in the past four years across the four countries represented, and also as a send-off as Dr. Daniels transitions the podcast to its new name, “Psychological Safety USA podcast.”

In this episode hosts Jason and Joelle welcome back Dr Kat Page, a workplace mental health expert and Chair of the upcoming Psych Health and Safety Conference (PHSCON 2026). Kat shares with listeners insights from her new book “Good Work”, a multi-year project that is now available to purchase. They then preview the key discussions that will take place at PHSCON on the themes of consultation, collaboration, culture and compliance. https://amzn.asia/d/03Beqh7o

In this episode of the Psych Health and Safety podcast, hosts Jason and Joelle welcome back Wade Needham, a leader in investment governance and stewardship. The discussion focuses on the recent New Zealand High Court ruling on officer due diligence, exploring its implications for psychosocial risk management in Australia. Wade shares insights on integrating psychosocial safety into business operations, emphasizing the importance of understanding financial pressures and organizational context. The conversation also touches on the role of legal judgments in shaping compliance and performance strategies, offering practical advice for executives and board members.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Graeme Cowan, Founder of WECARE365 and author of the recently published book Great Leaders Care. Graeme takes us through the key themes of his new book, drawn from the stories of people he has interviewed on his podcast, The Caring CEO. He shares practical steps that leaders can take to champion a culture of care and high performance. https://graemecowan.com.au/great-leaders-care/

In this episode hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Rev. Dr. Mark Layson, Director, Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network at Charles Sturt University. They discuss a recent Industrial Relations Commission hearing involving an internal investigation into conduct, a Safe Work investigation into the investigation process, and improvement notices targeting the systems of work relating to the management of conduct and performance. They talk about conduct investigations as a psychosocial hazard, and how the presence or absence of organisational justice can significantly impact mental health outcomes for people under investigation. https://www.routledge.com/Unexpected-Poison-Betrayal-and-Moral-Injury-in-Your-Workplace/Layson/p/book/9781032803067

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Peter Kelly, former UK podcast host and Founder of Being Real Workplace Mental Health Solutions. Peter was the Chair of the Drafting Committee for BS 30480 - Suicide in the workplace - Intervention, prevention and support for people affected by suicide, which was published in November 2025. Peter takes us through the drivers behind the Guide, how it was developed, its key content, and the response from employers and stakeholders since its publication. https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/insights-and-media/insights/brochures/bs-30480-suicide-and-the-workplace/

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Tim Bednall, Organisational Psychologist and Head of Data Science at FlourishDx. Tim takes us through a recent validation study he conducted for FlourishDx's latest risk assessment tool, the Psychosocial Impact Assessment. Listen to this episode to understand what the new tool is, how the validation study was conducted and its findings, and other interesting insights we discovered about how positive work factors interact with psychosocial risk.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Julia Cohen, Managing Director at Catalyst Safety and Catalyst Coaching. Julia shares her experience of moving from Higher Education into a Not-for-Profit, the similarities and the differences between the two industries, and the process she undertook to help improve the organisation's understanding of the critical risks in its operations, including the psychosocial risks, how she involved members of the workforce from all over Australia in the process, and how this helped to support executive decision-making around priorities and resource allocations for risk mitigations.

This is an episode for the safety nerds, the stats nerds, and the Fight Club fans. Hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Ben Hutchinson, host of the Safe As podcast, and prolific safety science communicator. We chat about Ben's work as a science communicator, then focus in on what he has found in his exploration of the research into the relationships between psychosocial factors and health and safety outcomes (hint: rumours of a lack of evidence have been greatly exaggerated). Ben then goes on to discuss the statistical barriers to demonstrating relationships between psychosocial factors and safety outcomes.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Adrian Neal and Andrew Cooper from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board about their recently published book - Under Investigation. They talk about the current impacts of workplace investigations on individuals, wider teams, HR colleagues, and finances, and build a business case for doing workplace investigations differently.

In this episode, recorded live from the Psych Health and Safety Conference in June 2025, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Rob Briner, Professor of Organisational Psychology at Queen Mary University of London. Rob breaks down what evidence-based practice means, what it looks like, and pitfalls for HR and WHS professionals to be aware of when considering interventions. This episode includes exclusive audience Q&A, where Rob answers questions submitted by audience members.

In this live Psych Health and Safety Podcast recording from PHSCON 2025, Jason and Joelle interview world-renowned organisational psychologist Adam Grant to unpack what truly drives workplace mental health and why “wellbeing benefits” alone won’t fix broken systems. Together, they explore the power of good work design, the real causes of burnout, how toxic cultures take hold, and what leaders can do to create work that helps people thrive (without burning them out). Practical, evidence-backed, and full of sharp insights for anyone serious about psychosocial safety at work.

In the final episode of the year, hosts Jason and Joelle reflect on the highlights and challenges of 2025, and discuss what's coming in 2026. They share some behind-the-scenes experiences from the Psych Health and Safety Conference 2025, along with a sneak peek of the line-up and venue for 2026. Other highlights from 2025 include the launch of the Psychosocial Safety Playbook, along with the Quick Start Risk Assessment, and the use of technology to improve accessibility of customised eLearning.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Naomi Kemp, CEO and co-founder of Fr@nk Capability Leaders. Naomi explains what a critical business risk is, how that is different to a critical safety risk, and whether psychosocial risk belongs in either category. Naomi shares her views on how organisations can best manage psychosocial risk within a critical risk frame.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Adam Nebbs, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research. Adam discusses the recently published research that formed part of his PhD, working with six organisations in a regional part of Australia as they translated ISO 45003 recommendations into tangible actions for implementation.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Gareth Beck, Safety Wellbeing and Risk Business Partner at Z Energy, and Anton Hutton, retailer at Hattrick Services. They share their experiences in collaborating to implement a psychosocial safety management program of works within a unique working environment, with Gareth offering the perspective from Z Energy, and Anton providing his experiences as a retailer.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Michelle Smidt, Senior Research Assistant at ANU College of Business and Economics, and Queensland University of Technology. Michelle shares insights from her PhD research, where she explored whether employee perceptions about organisational wellbeing initiatives influenced whether those initiatives achieved their outcomes.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Ben Searle, an Organisational Psychologist with particular expertise in burnout and stress. Ben shares his own experience of burnout while working in academia, reflecting on the way symptoms presented that were not "textbook", and how that influenced his ability to understand what was happening. We discuss how listeners might recognise signs and symptoms of burnout in others, and how to approach a conversation. Ben then goes on to share insights and strategies for employers to consider in managing and preventing burnout.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Wen Fan, Associate Professor of Sociology at Boston College. We explore her recently published research into whether a 4-day work week impacts worker wellbeing. She gives us some answers to the big questions: How should organisations approach preparing to transition to a 4-day work week? Does a 4-day work week lead to better mental and physical health outcomes? Does a 4-day work week lead to worse organisational outcomes?

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Monique Crane, Founder of the Research Resilience and Training Systems team at Macquarie University. Monique joins us to talk about the research she has been conducting with the Australian Navy, exploring mental health trajectories across Navy deployments. We discuss the role of job design as a determinant of mental health, and the aspects of job design that appear to be more important for the mental health of Navy personnel.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Megan Tranter, CEO and Founder of Purpose Pathfinders. We chat about her latest book, Clarity in Chaos - Lead with purpose in disruptive times. We explore the intersection between psychosocial safety and human sustainability, connection to purpose, and the role that leaders and employers can play in redesigning work to be a force for good.

In this special crossover podcast episode, the tables are turned as Bronwyn Milkins of the Mental Work podcast interviews normal co-host Jason van Schie on the topic of psychosocial hazards. In this lively conversation aimed at early career psychologists, they discuss what psychosocial hazards are and why they are important to manage. Jason provides practical guidance relevant for this group of workers (and a more general audience) on what can be done at an organisational-level and individual-level to protect psychological health from psychosocial hazards that can’t be eliminated, including consideration of the hierarchy of controls.

What really makes work meaningful? In this episode, Jason and Joelle sit down with Dr Mark Fabian, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Warwick and author of Beyond Happy. Together, they explore how work shapes our sense of purpose, the difference between self‑actualisation and self‑optimisation, and the often overlooked character traits that truly matter in the workplace.

If you’ve ever wondered whether work can (or should) be more than just a way to earn a living, this conversation will challenge your thinking and offer fresh insights into finding fulfilment beyond productivity.

Learn more about Dr Mark Fabian:
Find his book Beyond Happy here: harpercollins.com.au/9781835010501/beyond-happy
Learn more about him via his website: sites.google.com/view/markfabian/home

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Liz Payne, Chair of the ACT/NSW College of Organisational Psychologists, and returning chair of the Psych Health and Safety Conference (PHSCON 2025). During this conversation, Liz, Joelle and Jason recap highlights from the PHSCON 2025. This included going over the live podcast recordings with Rob Briner and Adam Grant, the conversations had with thought leaders and trailblazers including Mary Ann Baynton, Chris Jones, Wade Needham, Dr I. David Daniels, Kanae Dyas, Dr Anna Cody, and Elizabeth Broderick, and case studies on international approaches to psych health and safety, and bringing HR and WHS together. Missed the conference but wish you didn't? Don’t worry, you can catch up on every session and experience PHSCON 2025 on demand - See our website for details: psychhealthandsafetyconference.com/post-conference-access/

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with returning guest Dr John Chan, managing director of Infinite Potential. John joins us to discuss the latest iteration of his annual publication, The State of Workplace Burnout. He shares what's similar and what's different to previous year's findings, and the main trends emerging in 2025. https://infinite-potential.com.au/the-state-of-burnout-2025

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Jason Rawding, founder of MyBeast. Jason shares the different ways that humour can be used in workplaces to create or enhance psychological safety. He talks about different types of humour and the elements that contribute to humour, and emphasises that humour is a skill that can be developed and refined. https://www.mybeast.life/

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with returning guest Sandra Lam, Organisational Psychologist and Managing Director at FIFO Focus. We chat about a recently published WHS Undertaking between Cobar Management and the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Sandra shares her views on the remedial measures outlined in the published Enforcement, and suggests alternative measures that may have more impact.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Louise Deacon, psychological health and safety consultant at Thought:Process. Louise shares insights from her PhD research exploring how Officers conduct their due diligence duties in relation to psychosocial risk.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains references to suicide In this episode, UK hosts Peter and Kate chat with Kelly Nicoll, President and Chair of Council for the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). She shares her observations on generational differences in perspectives on mental health and stigma, and discusses the importance of mental health within the safety profession.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Joana Faustino, Chartered Psychologist and Principle Health and Wellbeing Specialist at The Rail Safety and Standards Board. Joana takes us through the RSSB's 'Mental Wellbeing in Rail: Achieving Change' project and shares learnings and next steps.

This episode is the second episode in a two-part series. Host Kim MacDonald and guest Dr. Leah Ringwald discuss the Conference Board's study into social connection in Canadian workplaces, titled, Real Connections in a Virtual World: Designing Remote Workplaces for Social Connections. Dr. Leah Ringwald is the Conference Board of Canada's associate director of health and human capital and research lead on workplace mental health and well-being.

In this episode Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Luka Campbell, Director National Regulatory Programs, and Kathy Naumczyk, Assistant Director Psychosocial Regulation at Comcare. Luka and Kathy take us through Comcare's recently published psychosocial Code of Practice and talk about their psychosocial inspection program. https://www.comcare.gov.au/scheme-legislation/whs-act/comcare-inspections/psychosocial-inspections

CONTENT WARNING: The conversation in this episode mentions suicide In this episode, UK host Peter Kelly chats with Sarah Ambrose, Business Psychologist. They talk about recent trends in how UK businesses have been perceiving and prioritising worker wellbeing, and Sarah shares her reflections as a member of the drafting panel establishing a standard for suicide prevention.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with returning guest Dr Michelle Tuckey, Professor of Work & Organisational Psychology at the University of South Australia. Building on her bullying research, Michelle gives us the inside scoop into her latest research project focused on cultivating systemic safety to prevent workplace sexual harassment. She shares the three-year plan for the project, early hypotheses, and intended outputs.

In this episode Ian Lewis interviews Megan Hunter to explore the dynamics of being an internal or external consultant to an organization and modelling psychological safety while doing psychological health and safety. It seems intuitive but one needs to be reminded organizations need to have pre-requisite trust and psychological safety to do the work required to gather, disclose, and contextualize their data. They also go on a short rabbit trail about why Canadians often begin events and episodes with a land acknowledgment and honour indigenous people.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Leanne Faulkner, entrepreneur and small business owner. We chat about Leanne's PhD research exploring the psychosocial safety of micro-business owners and sole-traders.

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Jacqueline Drew, Associate Professor with the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Griffith Criminology Institute, at Griffith University. Jacqui shares findings from her research into the interactions between job demands and health outcomes in policing. She explains the concept of embitterment, and discusses the role that this plays in the development of, and recovery from, PTSD. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/pijpsm-05-2024-0082/full/html

In this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr William Fleming, Research Fellow at the Wellbeing Research Centre in the University of Oxford. William shares insights from his research that shone a light on the ineffectiveness of individual-level interventions for mental health outcomes in workplace settings.

In this episode, Canadian host Kim MacDonald sits down with Steven Mah, a seasoned keynote speaker, instructor, counselling therapist, and safety professional, to explore the critical role of workplace culture as a psychosocial factor. Steven shares his insights on how workplace culture influences employee well-being, engagement, and overall mental health. From leadership behaviors to team dynamics and organizational norms, he unpacks the hidden forces that shape the daily experiences of workers.

In this special live recording episode of the Psych Health and Safety podcast from PHSCON 2024, Australian co-hosts Jason van Schie and Joelle Mitchell chat with Professor Christina Maslach about her foundational research on burnout. They talk about the initial inspiration for why Christina chose to focus her research on the topic and how the understanding of burnout has evolved since she first coined the term. They discuss burnout misconceptions, and the best ways to prevent burnout at work from the evidence-base.

In this episode, UK hosts Peter and Kate chat with Nancy Hey, Director of Evidence & Insight at Lloyd's Register Foundation. Nancy shares her broad strategic perspective on workplace wellbeing and psychosocial safety within the wider context of social determinants of health. She speaks to the significant role of leaders and in particular middle managers, and emphasises the importance of upskilling these roles appropriately to set them up for success.

In this special live recording episode of the Psych Health and Safety podcast from PHSCON 2024, Australian co-hosts Jason van Schie and Joelle Mitchell chat with Dr Michael Leiter about his book ‘The Burnout Challenge’. In the fun and revealing conversation, they discuss the importance of the design of work as the fundamental way to prevent burnout. Michael also provides suggestions for how to address burnout symptoms personally, and for leaders, he gives examples of what can be done at a team level to support the mental wellbeing of staff.