Appendix 6:
Workplace health and safety

Health and safety management in the department

The department attaches a high priority to the wellbeing of its workers and those who assist the organisation to achieve its objectives. We are committed to building an organisational culture that actively seeks to improve work practices and to foster attitudes that sustain healthy and safe work environments.

Work Health and Safety initiatives and outcomes

In May 2017 the department launched its Work Health and Safety (WHS) Strategic Plan 2017–2019 and complementary Officer Due Diligence Manual. These documents are sponsored by the Secretary and build upon the department’s WHS and Rehabilitation Management Systems.

The WHS Strategic Plan 2017–2019 aims to ensure the department is compliant with its duties and obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and promotes a robust culture of safety and wellbeing at all levels across the department. It identifies key objectives and sets out a three-year program of work to ensure continuous improvement.

The Officer Due Diligence Manual provides officers, as defined under the WHS Act, with information about their due diligence obligations and the activities and processes established to support officers to discharge their legislated responsibilities.

During 2016–17, 234 WHS incidents were reported. In response, corrective actions were implemented to eliminate or control the risk and prevent further occurrences where appropriate.

The department delivered individual WHS briefings to more than 40 staff deploying overseas, including attached agency staff. In addition, the department provided group training sessions including, but not limited to, managers deploying overseas, members of the Australian Civilian Corps and Australian Passport Office managers. The department completed WHS support visits to Australian missions in Baghdad, Jakarta and Port Moresby.

Reporting requirements under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the Act)

• 17 incidents were notified to Comcare under Part 3 of the Act.
• No directions were given to the department under Part 11, Section 217 of the Act.
• One external investigation commenced under Part 9 of the Act.
• No notices were issued under Part 10, Section 191 of the Act.

Rehabilitation Management

The Rehabilitation Management System (RMS), which was established as a stand-alone system in 2016, will be reviewed in 2017–18. The 2016–17 RMS audit against Section 41 of the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 demonstrates continuous improvement against rehabilitation best practice criteria.

The department continues to implement a number of proactive strategies to improve the management of injury and illness cases—both compensable and non-compensable—focusing on early intervention, targeted case management, collaboration with stakeholders and the management of service provider performance.

These strategies have improved rehabilitation outcomes and reduced costs to the department as evidenced by the department’s 2016–17 Comcare premium rate (Table 21), which demonstrates a continued reduction in premium costs as a percentage of payroll over the past three financial years.