The OHS leadership dilemma

Kevin Jones zoomed in again this year, because he is currently working on Norfolk Island. It's great that we have flexibilty now with our hybrid events so that both Speaker and attendees can be anywhere in the country or even overseas - we have certainly expanded since the early days of being focussed around the Melbourne CBD.

Kevin Jones' horizons are very wide too: his wonderfully enquiring mind means he is always exploring OHS issues through the latest thinking and research in a range of publications, not always directly related to OHS. He also draws on his own experiences to delve into topics, such as what leadership looks like in safety. 

Kevin provoked our thinking with a number of questions and ideas, such as, Is leadership a quality or a title? When it comes to titles, what does Team Leader really mean? Is it just jargon to deflect from accountability? As always, Kevin pulled no punches when discussing his thoughts on this important topic.

The talk included his reviews of 12 recent publications that look very interesting. One of the attendees commented on the fact that they often read and buy many of Kevin's recommendations, so clearly this is a highlight of Kevin's presentations.

Financial members may wish to catch up with a couple of recent presentations relevant to Kevin's talk: In May last year Rob Dival spoke about How do OHS Professionals leverage power and influence tactics?, and in February this year Helen O'Keefe spoke about the qualities recruiters look for in executive leaders in her presentation What makes a great OHS executive. Login in first to view both of those.

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Climate change as an OHS issue

Date & Time: Tuesday 9 June 2026, noon

CSG Hybrid Lunchtime Presentation - via zoom only

Speaker:  Presented by Sam Hall, Researcher & PhD Candidate, La Trobe University

Topic: Climate change as an OHS issue

The impact of climate change on worker health and safety, and the response by OHS professionals, will be discussed by Sam Hall in a lunchtime presentation to Central Safety Group on Tuesday 9 June.

Sam is doing PhD research into how climate change is creating new and emerging risks for worker health, safety and wellbeing. She is also exploring how occupational health professionals in Australia perceive these impacts of climate change, as well the role they can play in workplace climate adaptation...read more

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Kevin’s view is that there are two versions of leadership. One is a position or title that invokes leadership and is bestowed on people, but who then often need to learn how to be a leader

Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 8 June.  When booking, please ensure you select the June Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.

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Working with the new psychosocial regulations

The large turnout of both financial members and non-members to this presentation confirmed what we already suspected: this topic is of great interest to the OHS community. The small room was full and the Zoom was overflowing.

Dr Natassia (Tas) Goode coped well with the few technical hitches we experienced as she discussed changes to the OHS Act that strengthen and clarify the need for employers to manage both physical and psychological health through the introduction of the Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 which came into effect on 1 December last year.

Tas is Director of the new Psychological Health Division at WorkSafe Victoria, so we were privileged to have this opportunity to hear from such a high-level representative from the Regulator. 

When discussing risk management there was no real new information - assessment must be proactive, organisation-wide and include consultation with employees. A bullying case study was used to demonstrate the risk management process, although fatigue was specifically mentioned in inspector site visits.  The 16 psychosocial hazards listed are consistent with the Safe Work Australia list.

Of more interest was hearing about WorkSafe’s compliance and enforcement approach and the role of inspectors. It was good to see the wide range of levers available to inspectors to educate people and influence change with a strong emphasis on the provision of information and resources.

Tas stressed that, where surveys are used, they must be validated. She referred to a list of free validated surveys, but emphasised that they should not be the only form of consultation.  The topic of surveys came up during the extensive and lively discussion that followed the presentation –all of this is included in the recording of the event.

Tas outlined a whole range of FREE resources, tools and support available from WorkSafe Victoria for every range of business. She also talked about WorkSafe grants for industry trials and communities of practice, as well as a free time-limited program for 300 SMEs. Get in quickly!

Financial members may also be interested to re-visit our presentation from May 2024, where a WorkSafe panel discussed Psychological health & safety at work (login first).

Our thanks to Tas and to WorkSafe Victoria for providing this speaker and for their ongoing support as a corporate member of CSG. 

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The OHS Leadership Dilemma

Date & Time: Tuesday 12 May 2026, noon

CSG Hybrid Lunchtime Presentation - via zoom only

Speaker:  Presented by Kevin Jones, Editor, SafetyAtWorkBlog

Topic: The OHS leadership dilemma

For years, the key to positive change in OHS seems to have relied on leadership. However, the notion of leadership is something that people might recognise, but can’t describe. Kevin Jones, editor of the SafetyAtWorkBlog, will be zooming in at Central Safety Group’s lunchtime event on Tuesday 12th May to discuss this dilemma.

Kevin’s view is that there are two versions of leadership. One is a position or title that invokes leadership and is bestowed on people, but who then often need to learn how to be a leader.

...read more

Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 11 May.  When booking, please ensure you select the May Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.

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Working with the new psychosocial regulations

Date & Time: Tuesday 14 April 2026, noon

CSG Hybrid Lunchtime Presentation - via zoom or in person

Speaker:  Dr Natassia (Tas) Goode, Director, Psychological Health Division, WorkSafe Victoria

Venue:  Regus Yarra Room, 50th floor, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne

Topic: Working with the new psychosocial regulations

Employers are now required to manage psychosocial risks like any other workplace safety hazard as a result of new workplace laws in Victoria. The long-anticipated Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 came into effect on 1 December 2025.

Dr Natassia (Tas) Goode, Director of the Psychological Health Division at WorkSafe Victoria, discussed the new regulations, and what they mean for both workers and employers...read more

Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 13 April.  When booking, please ensure you select the April Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.

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The APHIRM toolkit –a tool to manage MSDs and stress-related mental health

One of the great aspects of the OHS community is how we are there to help each other and share our knowledge. This is one of the fundamental purposes of Central Safety Group and was exemplified in this presentation. The APHIRM toolkit is a free resource that has been designed to support organisations through a full cycle of MSD risk management.

APHIRM stands for A Participative Hazard Identification and Risk Management and was launched in 2019 after many years of research and refinement. Dr Jodi Oakman talked about how research has developed while current strategies haven't kept up with it, particularly in relation to psychosocail hazards. The APHIRM toolkit is a way to address that gap.

The focus is on early intervention and commences with a detailed survey. Jodi asked attendees to do the survey at one point in the session so that we could see it for ourselves. She also showed us what the toolkit looks like and what to expect when using it. There is a logical set of steps that includes the generation of reports and data to measure ongoing improvements.

There were quite a few questions and discussion after the formal presentation. Christina Rennick from St Vincents Hospital shared their experience with using the toolkit within their food services section. She noted that there had been some very positive feedback from the workers who participated. Worker participation is one of the key components of the toolkit, and Jodi talked about how it differs from consultation.

Throughout the presentation Jodi empahasised the practical nature of the toolkit and you could feel how inspired attendees were by this very important addition to our knowledge. Jodi referred us to the website where, amongst other things, one can find case studies and information about full-day workshops run by the Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors, La Trobe University in the CBD. The next one is on 19th May. www.aphirm.org.au

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MSD risks – a new approach

Date & Time: Tuesday 10 March 2026, noon

CSG Hybrid Lunchtime Presentation - via zoom only

Speaker:  Jodi Oakman, Head of the Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors, La Trobe University

Venue:  Regus Yarra Room, 50th floor, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne

Topic: The APHIRM toolkit – a tool to manage MSDs and stress-related mental health

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for more than 50% of workplace injuries and diseases, and are among the most expensive and prolonged work-related compensation claims. A pioneering approach to reducing MSDs and stress-related mental health has been developed by Professor Jodi Oakman and colleagues at La Trobe University.

Join us for an interactive Zoom session with Professor Oakman on 10 March exploring the APHIRM Toolkit. APHIRM stands for A Participative Hazard Identification and Risk Management and the free online toolkit guides workplaces through the process of identifying, assessing and controlling physical and psychosocial hazards (www.aphirm.org.au)...read more

Note: RSVP by close of business Monday 9 March.  When booking, please ensure you select the March Event from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP.

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Celebrating Nan Austin

At our AGM in February 2026, Nan Austin formally stepped down from the role of President that she had held since 2021. Luckily for us, she didn’t go too far: she is now Central Safety Group’s Treasurer!

During her 5 years as President, Nan made a significant contribution to the group. Her first achievement was to lead us into becoming an Incorporated Association, which has defined the goals and function of our association better, and protects members from legal action.

She also instigated more involvement from the committee – we now meet monthly via zoom, where we discuss upcoming events, how we can build CSG’s profile, offer more to members and improve engagement.

Prior to joining the CSG Committee, Nan was a long-time and active financial member, whose experience in OHS was sought after by others in our network. When she was Manager, Work Health and Safety at Red Cross Lifeblood, she organised a fascinating Site Visit for us at their newly-opened Blood Processing Centre in West Melbourne.

She was absent from our shores between 2016-2019 when she took up the post as Manager, Health and Safety at the University of Waikato on New Zealand’s North Island. When she returned, she didn’t hesitate to share with us her eye-opening experiences there in a presentation in November 2019. She later contributed a shortened video version of the presentation as part of our “CSG Talks” series in 2020 when normal physical meetings were suspended. You can re-visit that talk here.

Nan’s foray into the world of OHS began at the University of Melbourne in the 1980s, where she was a health and safety representative in the early days of the OHS Act. Her more formal move into safety was also at the University of Melbourne when SafetyMAP accreditation became a requirement of their workers compensation self-insurance.

Since then, Nan enjoyed an extensive career as a safety (and workers compensation) manager and auditor in state, national and international roles. Nan told me that she preferred CSG membership as AHIS did not recognise her Certificate IV in OHS for full membership. Her other significant qualifications include a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters in Business (Personal Injury Management).

At her farewell speech at our 2025 December networking lunch, Nan acknowledged the huge improvements in workplace health and safety since the 1980s, particularly the broadening focus that includes more psychosocial hazards beyond bullying and harassment. This change has brought in more females to what had, in the past, been a more traditional male role focusing on the physical hazards of the workplace.

Nan’s decision to step down from the Presidency was precipitated by her pending retirement from the world of safety. This will allow her more time to enjoy her other pursuits and interests, particularly as a volunteer at the Kensington Stockyard Food Garden and the Kensington Neighbourhood House. There is a clear pattern of community service in all that Nan does.

She will also have more time to travel and enjoy what nature has to offer in both Australia and the rest of the world. Well done, Nan, you deserve it, and thank you for all you have done for Central Safety Group!

To contact Nan, go to www.linkedin.com/in/nan-austin-41b2a025

What makes a great OHS executive

For those looking to progress to an Executive level in their OHS career, this presentation is essential viewing. Helen went into a lot of detail about the qualities and skills sought in these roles, and they go well beyond mere technical capability.

She delved into the sorts of questions one would expect in an interview or that one should ask when seeking a suitable candidate. Questions such as "Can they drive change?" and "How can they exert influence?"

Helen's extensive experience is so valuable and this was evident when she gave a wealth of advice on how to position oneself, including how to translate OHS into financial language that will resonate with potential employers.

Helen also presented an analysis of the current job market for Executive positions, based on data from Seek and LinkedIn. She said that such positions are as easy to find as a polar bear in a snowstorm! However, they are still out there, particularly in the field of construction. Queensland is top of the leaderboard.

Helen's talk sparked a lot of discussion afterwards, most of which is captured in the recording.

As always, Helen's presentation provided fascinating insights and was a great way to kick off the year. Those of us in the room also enjoyed meeting up in person, thanks to Helen's generous sponsorship of our event venue, the Regus Yarra Room with its wonderful view from the top floor of 120 Collins Street.

As of this year Financial members have 2 options for catching up with presentations, either through the video or the audio version, a new feature we have introduced for those who like to listen to podcasts. Your feedback about this would be gratefully received.

Related to this month's topic, Financial members may also be interested in revisitng the presentation from Rob Dival in May 2025 How do OHS Professionals leverage power and influence tactics?

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Central Safety Group Inc. AGM news

The 2025 Annual General Meeting took place on Tuesday 10 February, 2026. The biggest news is that there have been some significant resignations from the Committee: Nan Austin & Cameron Cranstoun have stepped down from their Executive positions of President & Treasurer respectively, and Dominic Melling has also resigned as an ordinary committee member.

While we are very sad to see them go, there is such a talent pool within the committee and amongst our membership, that we continue to have a strong committee willing and able to work hard to advance the group. The 2026 committee consists of:

President – Christina Rennick
Vice President – Craig Ramadge (also Social Media Co-ordinator)
Treasurer - Nan Austin
Secretary – Rob D’Elsini

Ordinary Members:
Gavin Kenny
Jane Loudon (Events Co-ordinator)
Marina Milankovic (Membership Co-ordinator)
Rwth Stuckey

While Cameron & Dominic are no longer on the committee, they both remain Financial members and continue to offer their support to the group, for which we are truly grateful.

Cameron has been our Treasurer since 2017 and proved to be extremely diligent, methodical and capable. He leaves us with our finances in a very strong position.

Dominic joined the committee in 2022 and has been highly valued for his contributions to finding speakers, developing topics and even delivering a presentation himself in 2024.

Nan Austin became President in 2021 and has made a big impact on the group. She was the driver behind us becoming an Incorporated Association and more involvement from the committee. She was always looking at how we could build our profile, offer more to members and improve engagement. During her time we have seen a more than 50% increase in membership and the addition of 5 Corporate Members. We are very happy that she remains on the committee and has even stepped into the role of Treasurer.

The committee gave Nan a gift at the December lunch, but we also marked her final day as President at the AGM with a bunch of tulips -a fitting gesture for this enthusiastic gardener.

Our sincere thanks to Nan, Cameron & Dominic for their service; congratulations to Christine & Craig for your elevation to the roles of President & Vice President; and welcome to Rwth Stuckey! It is sure to be another great year ahead for CSG. 

We urge you to contribute as well - make contact any time with your thoughts and ideas, particularly about any topics/speakers that interest you. You can This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. any time - your feedback is always appreciated.

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