Central Safety Group Melbourne

OHS job market analysis

HOK Talent Solutions is a fantastic supporter of Central Safety Gro up with provision of their beautiful Collins St boardroom for our monthly events and an annual informative review of the current OHS recruitment scene nationally.

The February 2024 presentation was based on Helen’s direct contact with hundreds of employers and deep data analysis from online recruitment sites such as Seek.com and LinkedIn. Further insights were derived from the thousands of interviews that Helen has undertaken while coaching candidates to land their dream OHS job. In summary, OHS job numbers have increased by 3% with candidates at advisor level being most in demand.

Helen's expertise and passion for her work were greatly appreciated by those of us online and in the room. In-person attendees not only enjoyed the view from the top floor of 120 Collins Street, but also the opportunity to continue the conversation with Helen after the formal part of the event.

Financial members can watch the full presentation on the CSG website. If you are looking for a new job check out www.hoktalentsolutions.com.au

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Recruiting and retaining OHS staff

It was a great start to a new year of presentations with Helen O'Keefe's insights into the OHS recruitment scene. As it happened to be St Valentine's Day, Helen gave her presentation a cute twist by drawing an analogy between the employee life cycle and a marriage, and it fitted surprisingly well. She covered the full gamut from recruitment as the dating phase; onboarding & retention equating to a marriage; and separation as a divorce. To avoid the latter, Helen gave several tips on how to maintain a happy marriage in the work sense.

She explained how January started as strongly as 2022 did, which had already broken records with the number of positions being advertised. In particular it is specialists that are being sought. Post lockdown candidates have become more selective, which is making recruitment harder. Position descriptions are changing as a result of this, so that they are more like an advertisement to attract people. Helen gave some practical suggestions about how to make a PD more attractive.

Helen also had some great tips during her presentation for retaining staff, and further tips came up during the engaging discussion afterwards. One fascinating insight was how important a platform like LinkedIn has become. Having an up-to-date profile is advantageous for both a candidate and a potential employer, because it can show how well-connected you are and the range of activities you are involved in. In fact, Helen predicts that CVs will become obsolete and will be replaced by a LinkedIn profile or similar.

Helen is such an enthusiastic speaker on her topic and the attendees really appreciated her expertise.

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The current OHS job scene

There was a lot of interest in this very timely and fascinating presentation. As Helen said, the current job scene in OHS is HOT and, as it is likely to stabilise next year, now is the time to pursue new opportunities if that has been on your mind. It's a candidate's market!

It was heartening to hear that the pandemic has had one positive effect in that the reputation of OHS has been boosted, making it a great career choice.

Helen shared some interesting national statistics on recruiting that showed the most sought-after job categories. She also offered valuable advice to both potential candidates and organisations looking to fill roles.

Helen conducts a regular podcast series where she talks to CEOs about OHS, which you can learn more about at https://www.hoktalentsolutions.com.au/podcast-webinars/

If you are interested in OHS job opportunities a bit further afield, check out Nan Austin's presentation from July 2020 about her experiences in New Zealand: Safety shake-up across the Tasman, which you can access here (log in first)

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Date & Time: Tuesday 12 February at 12:00pm

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE:
Venue: DXC Technology Level 19 (Board Room 1), 360 Collins Street, Melbourne.

An Explosive Hazard Hidden in Plain Sight

Richard Greenwood, RG Chemical Safety.

Combustible dust can be a hidden chemical hazard in workshops, factories, storage facilities and many other places. Because it’s not classified as a hazardous substance or as dangerous goods, it is often ignored in workplace procedures and risk control. The significance of this will be discussed by chemical hazards expert Richard Greenwood in a lunchtime presentation to Central Safety Group on 12 March.
The consequences of not recognising the presence of combustible dust were dramatically demonstrated recently when two workers doing routine maintenance were seriously injured in a workplace explosion in Victoria. The result was an Enforceable Undertaking for the company involved, including preparation of basic workplace training materials and a video for awareness of the hazard. Richard will talk about this case as part of its compliance with WorkSafe’s Enforceable Undertaking.
He will explain how fine combustible dusts are likely to form and potentially explode when disturbed in an enclosed space. He will also discuss how to detect and manage risks associated with this... Read More

.The presentation will be followed by a brief Annual General Meeting of CSG, to which all Financial Members are invited to attend.

Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the March Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.

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OHS careers and recruitment - what’s hot and what’s not

A new year of presentations got off to a great start with a very informative talk from Rachel McGregor and Ebonie Martello of Safety People on the 12th February. 

Their experience as OHS recruitment specialists meant they were able to give detailed insights into current trends, including salary trends for various OHS roles, including Safety Advisors, HSE Managers and consultants.

Of particular interest was their discussion about the move away from specialists and the increase in the demand for consultants. They also provided tips for supporting your OHS career.

Their presentation was followed by an extensive Q&A session, which covered such topics as:

• stress & the safety professional
• qualifications versus practical experience
• types of contract positions & their average length
• age group issues
• advice about CVs

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Date & Time: Tuesday 12 February at 12:00pm

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE:
Venue: Level 19, 360 Collins Street, Melbourne (Xchanging).

OHS Careers - what’s hot and what’s not

Rachel McGregor and Ebonie Martello, Safety People

Key job market trends in safety in Australia will be the subject of a presentation at the Central Safety Group’s first meeting for 2019 on 12 February. OHS recruitment specialists Rachel McGregor and Ebonie Martello of Safety People will give a presentation followed by a Q&A session with the audience.

They will talk about:

• industry trends
• salary trends
• the world of safety consulting... Read More

.The presentation will be followed by a brief Annual General Meeting of CSG, to which all Financial Members are invited to attend.

Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the February Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.

RSVP Here