Management and accountability
Work health and safety
The agency's work health and safety (WHS) arrangements are in line with the requirements set out for Australian Government agencies in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
The agency's WHS 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 WHS awareness is a mandatory module in the induction program for new employees, volunteers and contractors
- ensuring that WHS representatives are trained in line with legislative requirements
- maintaining a dedicated intranet page that provides information to all employees on WHS legislation and responsibilities, as well as notification and reporting tools
- establishing procurement and contracting procedures that outline legislative requirements and the responsibilities of contractors in relation to WHS
- aligning human resource policies and procedures with WHS 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 and career advice and helps 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.
Two incidents were reported to Comcare in 2014–15. Both incidents were investigated; however, no findings were recorded.