Chapter 3—Management and accountability
Work health and safety
The agency’s work health and safety (WH&S) arrangements are in line with the requirements set out for Australian Government agencies in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
The agency’s WH&S activities include:
- providing ongoing training to all employees, volunteers and contractors to ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities as workers under the Act
- ensuring WH&S awareness is a mandatory module in the induction program for new employees, volunteers and contractors
- ensuring that WH&S representatives are trained in line with legislative requirements
- maintaining a dedicated intranet page that provides information to all employees on WH&S legislation and responsibilities, as well as notification and reporting tools
- establishing procurement and contract procedures that outline legislative requirements and the responsibilities of contractors in relation to WH&S
- aligning human resource policies and procedures with WH&S legislative requirements
- offering a health and wellbeing program to all staff to promote a culture of maintaining a healthy work and life balance.
In promoting a healthy and supportive working environment, the agency provides staff and their families with access to an employee assistance program that offers a confidential counselling service, career advice and help to manage work-related or personal matters.
The health and wellbeing program is also available to all staff and includes workstation assessments, health checks, flu vaccinations and access to a career counselling service.
The WH&S Committee met four times in 2012–13; the minutes of meetings were made available to all staff on the intranet within five days.
One incident was reported to Comcare, and no incidents were reported to Comcover, in 2012–13. No investigations were carried out or notices given under relevant legislation in relation to the agency in 2012–13.