Judgemental - a psychologist and a lawyer walk into a bar

The psychosocial risk system: the fundamental control that enables all controls.

Episode Summary

Three sandgropers walk into a bar… and end up dismantling how Australian workplaces are (not) managing psychosocial risk, one elderflower spritz at a time. Kate and Greg are joined by Tasha Broomhall, fresh from an eight-year PhD exploring psychosocial safety. Her headline finding? Everyone’s talking about it — but very few organisations are actually doing it well, and leaders are often left to figure it out alone.

Episode Notes

Three sandgropers walk into a bar… and end up dismantling how Australian workplaces are (not) managing psychosocial risk, one elderflower spritz at a time.

Kate and Greg are joined by Tasha Broomhall, fresh from an eight-year PhD exploring psychosocial safety. Her headline finding? Everyone’s talking about it — but very few organisations are actually doing it well, and leaders are often left to figure it out alone. 

Tasha’s research lands with six punchy themes, including leaders feeling “all by myself,” widespread silence around risk, and a frustratingly persistent belief that EAPs and mental health training were designed to be psychological injury prevention initiatives.  Meanwhile, hazards are stacking up, systems are either missing or meaningless, and some organisations are waiting for prosecutions to stack up before acting. 

The trio dig into the real issue: it’s not a lack of activity — it’s a lack of genuinely human-centred systems. With a key starting point for change – consultation with the people who actually do the work!!

The upside? There’s “gold in them hills” when organisations involve their people, build capability, and start small rather than chasing compliance theatre. 

 

Connect with us:

LinkedIn – Kate Connors

LinkedIn – Greg Smith

LinkedIn – Tasha Broomhall

LinkedIn – EML 



Resources:


Elemental Psychology & Coaching   website

Greg Smith – Safety Books Proving Safety and Paper Safe

EML website

EML Psychosocial resources – Mutual Benefitshttps://www.eml.com.au/news-community/latest-news/reduce-psychosocial-risks-in-workplaces/

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