CSG Monthly Meetings
Helen O'Keefe
Like many areas of the current job scene, employers looking for quality OHS professionals are finding themselves in an inflated job market, where there are more roles available than suitable applicants.
So what’s required to attract and retain OHS talent when good candidates are spoilt for choice? What do you need to be doing differently? Some useful advice will be offered by Helen O’Keefe, who runs a leading national health & safety executive search agency, at a presentation for CSG at noon on Tuesday 14 February....read more
Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 13 February 2023. When booking, please ensure you select the February Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.
Ross Macfarlane
Ross Macfarlane has extensive experience conducting successful OHS audits for a wide range of companies and organisations. Since 2008 he has conducted over 1,000 audits and has an audit log of over 1,350 days. Based on this wealth of experience, Ross will share his top 5 tips for a successful audit program in a lunchtime Zoom talk on 8 November.
Ross will discuss how to develop and implement an audit schedule based on risk and then how to plan and prepare for the audit itself. Other topics covered will be: putting auditees at ease during interviews, the rules of evidence, and strategies for corrective actions that actually work...read more
Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 7 November 2022. When booking, please ensure you select the November Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.
CSG 60th Anniversary
Join us in the grand surroundings of Parliament House Victoria to celebrate CSG’s 60 years of networking and continuous service to the OHS community. Hosted by David Caple AM, with speakers Dr Narelle Beer (ED WorkSafe Victoria) and Barry Naismith, and a delicious meal showcasing the state’s fresh produce....read more
Note: RSVP by close of business Friday 7 October 2022.
Ben Thomson
Aviation demands particularly sound safety management systems and behaviours. Ben Thomson, Safety Manager for Flight Academy Australia (FAA), a light aircraft pilot training business, faces special challenges with instructors and students from a wide range of backgrounds...read more
Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 12 September 2022. When booking, please ensure you select the September Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.
Phil Lovelock
Details coming soon.
Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 8 August 2022. When booking, please ensure you select the August Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.
Dr Carys Chan
What are the psychological effects of workplace injury? How can an understanding of this help employers support workers’ return to work? Research findings on this will be discussed in a Zoom presentation on 12 July by Dr Carys Chan of Griffith University, one of the authors of a recent paper commissioned by Safe Work Australia.
The aim was to advance knowledge and generate recommendations for Safe Work Australia’s National Return to Work Strategy 2020-2030. Safe Work Australia develops national policy to improve WHS and workers’ compensation arrangements across Australia...Read more
Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 11 July 2022. When booking, please ensure you select the July Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.
Keith Govias
Keith Govias will talk about Ethics in Safety. Keith is an OHS professional who has held a Fairfax Fellowship in Ethical Leadership.
More details coming soon.
Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 9 May 2022. When booking, please ensure you select the May Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.
Jason Green
Jason will be talking about how the OHS community here can get involved.
More details coming soon.
Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 13 June 2022. When booking, please ensure you select the June Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.
Tracey Browne
Victoria has developed draft regulations for psychological health, and work is happening at the national level to develop Model WHS Regulations on this topic. What responsibilities will employers have under this new legislation? How might it affect the workplace? Will it have an impact on workers compensation?
These and other issues will be discussed in a zoom presentation at midday on 12 April by Tracey Browne, Manager, National Safety & Workers' Compensation Policy and Membership Services at Australian Industry Group (Ai Group).
Tracey is currently representing peak national employer organisation Ai Group on a working group reviewing WorkSafe Victoria’s proposed OHS Amendment (Psychological Health) Regulations, which were released for public comment closing on 31 March 2022. Tracey also represents industry as a member of Safe Work Australia, who are developing the Model Regulations and supporting Code of Practice.
The new WorkSafe regulations reflect the existing requirement in the Act to manage both physical and psychological health and safety. WorkSafe considers that they will provide clearer guidance to employers on their obligations to protect workers better from mental injury.
After her presentation Tracey will invite questions and discussion.
About the speaker:
Tracey Browne joined the national employers’ representative Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) in 2001. She has been their Manager of National Safety & Workers' Compensation Policy and Membership Services for the past 14 years.
Tracey’s role includes representing employer views and interests to governments, regulators and other relevant bodies, when legislative and policy changes are being considered. She is also responsible for information, advice and training in relation to safety and workers' compensation for Ai Group membership and staff.
Before joining AiG, Tracey worked in OHS and workers compensation roles in industry and lectured on safety and workers compensation at Ballarat University.
Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 11 April 2022. When booking, please ensure you select the April Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.
Pam Pryor AO
OHS is now suffering from 'disciplinary ambiguity' according to a recent international study. You will hear why from Pam Pryor, Manager OHS Body of Knowledge Development for the Australian Institute of Health and Safety, in a CSG lunchtime Zoom presentation on 8 March.
Changes affecting the OHS profession include the COVID-19 pandemic opening new ground on workplace safety; the growing discussions around psychological health and safety, and the fact that many OHS professionals now include ‘wellness’ as part of their role.
These all highlight the lack of clarity around the role of the generalist OHS Professional, according to Pam.
Pam is co-author of a recent paper [The OHS Professional: International and Australian Perspectives] published as part of the Body of Knowledge. She will offer insights and perspectives on the current status of the generalist OHS professional in Australia, why it is now seen to be in some respects an ‘emerging profession’, and where it is headed.
If you are employed in OHS or a related field, this session should not be missed.
About the speaker:
Pam Pryor is an internationally recognised specialist in OHS capability and related aspects of OHS professionality.
She is currently responsible for the development and ongoing maintenance of the Australian OHS Body of Knowledge (BoK). Bok is the collective works developed by a range of specialists that informs OHS education, certification and further development of OHS professionals. (See www.ohsbok.org.au)
Her work with the International Network of Safety and Health Professionals developing the OHS Professional Capability Framework earned Pam the 2017-18 President’s Award from the American Society of Safety Professionals.
In 2018 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for her contribution to OHS Professionals, through her leadership and advisory roles, particularly in developing standards for education frameworks.
Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 7 March 2022. When booking, please ensure you select the March Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.
Kevin Jones
Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 7 February 2022. When booking, please ensure you select the February Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.
CSG networking get-together
A FREE zoom event
for both members and friends of CSG
Host: Nan Austin, President, Central Safety Group.
December is the time of year for us to celebrate our CSG network, share ideas and get to know each other a little better.
While circumstances prevent us from gathering in person for a second year, please join us via zoom for an informal networking function. Let’s share our experiences and valuable lessons from 2021, as well as exploring next year's events... Read more...
Note: RSVP not required for this event.
Return to work in Covid times: managing psychosocial risk
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a drastic impact on workplace conditions and work arrangements. This has brought new psychosocial risks that can affect the health and wellbeing of workers. Occupational health expert Dr Natasha Lazareski will discuss this issue, along with strategies to manage it, in a Zoom presentation to Central Safety Group Inc. on Tuesday 9 November at noon.
She says that, if not appropriately assessed and managed, psychosocial risks increase stress levels and can lead to physical and mental health problems. Psychological responses may include low mood, low motivation, exhaustion, anxiety, depression and burnout. Read more...
Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 8 November 2021. When booking, please ensure you select the November Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.
The current job scene for OHS – what’s different now
The current job scene for OHS – what’s different now
What’s the current job scene for OHS? The news is that at the moment there are more roles on offer than candidates, according to Helen O’Keefe, who runs a leading national health & safety executive search agency. This will be the subject of her zoom presentation for CSG at midday on Tuesday 12 October.
Helen will discuss the reasons for the current shortage of applicants happening across the board in a range of industries, as well as in different levels and roles in the OHS field.
She will be offering advice to recruiters, current job seekers and people trying to decide whether to move in the current job climate. “When you have a candidate-led market, the traditional recruitment methods may not work,” says Helen. “Candidates also need to consider certain things carefully before accepting a new role.”
Helen will talk about how workplace changes during the pandemic have led to some organisations creating different OHS roles or adding new requirements.
The session will conclude with discussion and questions from the audience..
Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 11 October 2021. When booking for this Event, please ensure you select the October Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.