Course - MARS Grant

Psychosocial Risk Management: Capability Enhancement

NEWS!

This course provides participants with the opportunity to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to receive the Nationally Recognised Unit of Competency BSBWHS512 through FIFO Focus’ partnering RTO.

We’re excited to announce that participants of our 4-day Psychosocial Risk Management course now have the opportunity to receive a Diploma-level Unit of Competency: BSBWHS512 – Contribute to managing work-related psychological health and safety.

Please note: participants will be assessed independently by FIFO Focus’ RTO partner and may involve additional application costs but the FIFO Focus team will support each participants through the assessment process.

Don’t miss this chance to gain formal recognition of your skills and advance your recognition in the psychosocial space!

Course Overview

Capability Enhancement Programs

FIFO Focus, in partnership with the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS), are proud recipients of the MARS Mentally Healthy Workplace Grant to deliver our Psychosocial Risk Management Capability Enhancement Programs for the WA mining industry, under a subsidised arrangement. The new WHS Act (2020) elevates psychological health placing a legal obligation on employers to ensure that working environments are safe from psychosocial hazards.

What is a Psychosocial Hazard?

Psychosocial hazards are related to psychological and social conditions of the workplace, not just physical conditions which can harm workers’ health and compromise wellbeing. They result from the way work is designed, organized and managed which increases the risk of work-related stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns. In turn, these factors can lead to either psychological or physical harm – or both.

Causes of Psychosocial Hazards

Psychosocial hazards can result from many risk factors such as, but not limited to, poor supervisor support, excessive job demands, poor organisational management, poor organisational justice, low recognition or reward, lack of role clarity, poor workplace relationships, remote or isolated work or traumatic events.

Consequences of Psychosocial Hazards

Exposure to psychosocial hazards has a strong correlation to mental health concerns such as stress, burnout, depression and anxiety, and can have both economic and social consequences. Left unaddressed, besides psychological harm, they can also affect worker performance, productivity, even profit.

Psychosocial Hazards can occur anywhere

Some hazards might always be present at work, while others occur occasionally.  A change in personnel, management, organisational structure, location, processes, procedures or targets can lead to new and different psychosocial hazards. There is a greater risk of work-related stress when psychosocial hazards combine and act together. Causes may be specific to an employee, work or workplace. Consequently, employers should not consider hazards in isolation.

Psychosocial Hazards may be invisible

You can’t address psychosocial hazards and risks unless you know what, and where, they may be. Employers and their people need to know how to recognise, identify, risk assess and prioritise them. Only then can appropriate action be taken to mitigate and control their impact. This requires specialised skills.

Learning Outcomes

FIFO Focus provides Psychosocial Risk Management: Capability Enhancement Programs to address this issue directly with WA mining companies. Not only will you understand legislation, the Program equips you to meet DEMIRS compliance requirements, and develop skills to minimise harm, improve performance and increase productivity.

The comprehensive, four-day, AIHS endorsed program is aimed at understanding psychosocial hazards, identifying and recognising them, analysing risk, and developing strategies to mitigate, control and measure the impact.

The course adopts an action learning methodology. Participants will learn through practical application of skills within their organisation, supported by an informal peer support network.

FIFO Focus provides Psychosocial Risk Management: Capability Enhancement Programs to address this issue directly with WA mining companies. Not only will you understand legislation, the Program equips you to meet DEMIRS compliance requirements, and develop skills to minimise harm, improve performance and increase productivity.

The comprehensive, four-day, AIHS endorsed program is aimed at understanding psychosocial hazards, identifying and recognising them, analysing risk, and developing strategies to mitigate, control and measure the impact.

The course adopts an action learning methodology. Participants will learn through practical application of skills within their organisation, supported by an informal peer support network.

Who Should Attend:

As this course is funded by WA Government’s MARS Initiative, the program is STRICTLY available to internal mining representatives and supporting industry companies responsible for managing the program of identifying, assessing & mitigating psychosocial risk, such as:

For those who are not eligible, please contact us for alternatives.

As this course is funded by WA Government’s MARS Initiative, the program is STRICTLY available to internal mining representatives and supporting industry companies responsible for managing the program of identifying, assessing & mitigating psychosocial risk, such as:

For those who are not eligible, please contact us for alternatives.

Course Schedule

The program spans approximately 3-4 months where participants are required to attend two days face-to-face, then conduct hazards identification and risk assessments between days 3 and 4, scheduled between six to seven weeks apart. 

Code
Dates
Register
Status

CP1

Completed

Closed

Completed

CP2

Completed

Closed

Completed

CP3

Completed

Closed

Completed

CP4

Completed

Closed

Completed

CR1

17 October 2023
18 October 2023
9 November 2023
7 December 2023

17 Oct 2023
18 Oct 2023
9 Nov 2023
7 Dec 2023

Closed

Completed

CP5

6 February 2024
7 February 2024
21 March 2024
2 May 2024

6 Feb 2024
7 Feb 2024
21 Mar 2024
2 May 2024

Closed

Completed

CP6

25 June 2024
26 June 2024
15 August 2024
10 October 2024

25 Jun 2024
26 Jun 2024
15 Aug 2024
10 Oct 2024

Closed

Completed

CR2

16 September 2024
17 September 2024
28 October 2024
10 December 2024

16 Sept 2024
17 Sept 2024
28 Oct 2024
10 Dec 2024

Closed

Completed

CP7

11 February 2025
12 February 2025
27 March 2025
8 May 2025

11 Feb 2025
12 Feb 2025
27 Mar 2025
8 May 2025

Closed

Completed

CP8

25 March 2025
26 March 2025
7 May 2025
26 June 2025

25 Mar 2025
26 Mar 2025
7 May 2025
26 Jun 2025

Closed

Completed

CP9

18 June 2025
19 June 2025
31 July 2025
4 September 2025

18 Jun 2025
19 Jun 2025
31 Jul 2025
4 Sep 2025

Closed

Completed

CP10

16 September 2025
17 September 2025
30 October 2025
11 December 2025

16 Sep 2025
17 Sep 2025
30 Oct 2025
11 Dec 2025

Closed

Completed

CP11

3 February 2026
4 February 2026
19 March 2026
30 April 2026

3 Feb 2026
4 Feb 2026
19 Mar 2026
30 Apr 2026

Closed

In Progress

CP12

17 March 2026
18 March 2026
29 April 2026
11 June 2026

17 Mar 2026
18 Mar 2026
29 Apr 2026
11 Jun 2026

Would you like to attend this training at a future date? Register your interest:

Course Presenters

Sharon Rudderham

Principal Consulting Psychologist

View Bio >>
Sharon is a registered psychologist with significant experience in leadership, people & culture, and business partnering. With a passion for creating mentally healthy workplaces and psychosocial risk management, Sharon collaborates with organisations to build internal capability and create inclusive, sustainable, safe and high performing organisations. Her experience predominantly spans the Mining and Oil & Gas sectors, including FIFO and remote residential roles, and both operational and corporate roles. She holds a Masters in Organisational Psychology from the University of Western Australia and is an ICR Accredited Coach.

Michelle Stephenson

Lead Consulting Organisational Psychologist

View Bio >>
Michelle is a solution-focused organisational psychologist, facilitator, and coach with a passion for workplace mental health and wellbeing. She specialises in mental health assessment, psychosocial risk evaluation, trauma-informed care, and psychometric assessment across private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Michelle works with mining organisations to assess and develop controls for psychosocial hazards. Her experience also includes supporting frontline workers exposed to trauma and stress, and providing training in emotional support and suicide intervention. Michelle is dedicated to helping organisations and staff develop sustainable, healthy working practices.

Sandra Lam

Managing Director

View Bio >>
Sandra Lam is the managing director and founder of FIFO Focus. As an endorsed organisational psychologist and organisational development professional, she has over two decades of industry experience in the public and private sectors in Australia and overseas. Throughout her career, Sandra has developed expertise in improving organisational performance, born from a desire to make workplaces safer, more welcoming and more enjoyable. Sandra’s goal in establishing FIFO Focus was to empower individuals to become mentally resilient and support employers to manage the complexities of psychological health among remote workers. Sandra’s qualifications include a Masters in Organisational Psychology and an MBA.

About FIFO Focus

FIFO Focus works to create psychologically healthier workplaces for FIFO workers. Our education and psychological support services are designed to help organisations manage psychosocial risks and develop mental resilience and wellbeing in the FIFO sector.

We design and support proactive interventions to limit psychosocial harm in remote work environments. We partner with employers to build internal capacity to build psychologically healthy workplaces and develop a more resilient workforce. We also offer education and support directly to individuals, including FIFO workers and their partners.

Developing mental resilience is one of the key mitigative factors for FIFO workers and their families. For FIFO employees, learning better ways to deal with day to day stresses and challenges or remote work can lead a more fulfilling and rewarding life.

Our registered psychologists and behavioural specialists use the latest research to create practical solutions and systems for happier, healthier FIFO workplaces and workers.

Course Fee

Cost: AIHS Member: $1650* (inc GST) | Non Member: $1925* (inc GST)

We invite you to join our Psychosocial Risk Management: Capability Enhancement today!

* The subsidised rate is only for WA mining and supporting industry participants. Scholarships and non-mining or supporting industry enquiries please email info@fifofocus.com.au.

** You will need to submit your Certificate of Attendance to the relevant authority to obtain your CLE/CPD points.

Expression of Interest

Psychosocial Risk Management: Capability Enhancement