Reducing psychosocial risks in the workplace was a top priority for Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra Ltd (SAHSSI), a not-for-profit organisation providing critical support to vulnerable women and families across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions. To achieve this, SAHSSI partnered with Mental Health Movement (MHM) to strengthen wellbeing, psychological safety and compliance for their workforce.
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Their goals were twofold:
- Ensure full compliance with Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation regarding psychosocial hazards and risks.
- Create a mentally healthy and supportive workplace where every employee can thrive.
That’s where MHM’s Psychological Health and Safety Manager, Dr Alisha McGregor, stepped in to design a tailored psychosocial risk management program that balanced compliance, culture and connection. The three core pillars of our approach.
Step 1: Identification – Finding Psychosocial Risks in the Workplace
MHM worked closely with SAHSSI to customise our Psychosocial Hazard Questionnaire (PHQ). This process included:
- Adapting the language to suit SAHSSI’s workforce and departments
- Conducting a cultural review to ensure sensitivity to a diverse, multicultural team
- Providing promotional materials and communication tools to encourage participation
The PHQ uncovered key psychosocial hazards including high emotional demands and exposure to trauma, giving SAHSSI the data-driven insights needed to take targeted action.
This step established a baseline for workplace mental health, identifying both strengths and risks unique to SAHSSI’s environment.
Step 2: Education – Reducing Psychosocial Risks Through Training
MHM then delivered a tailored Psychosocial Hazard Training Course for SAHSSI’s representative working group.
This in-person workshop covered:
- The 15 psychosocial hazards in the NSW Code of Practice
- Psychological safety and the role of leadership
- WHS legislation and organisational responsibilities
Using industry-specific examples, such as caseworkers in homelessness refuges, MHM helped participants connect theory to real-life challenges.
The outcome?
A team equipped with the knowledge and confidence to assess, manage and reduce psychosocial risks in the workplace.
Step 3: Assessment: Reviewing Controls and Closing Gaps
Next, MHM facilitated a psychosocial risk assessment led by Dr Alisha McGregor at SAHSSI’s head office.
Using our accelerated risk assessment pro-forma, the 15 psychosocial hazards were grouped into four key categories, streamlining the process and engaging every participant.
The group reviewed current control measures, identified gaps and rated each risk based on severity, frequency and duration using Mentimeter, an interactive polling tool.
This collaborative approach built ownership and empowered SAHSSI’s team to actively shape their workplace wellbeing strategy.
Step 4: Implementation: Putting the Plan into Action
Based on the risk assessment findings, MHM provided a detailed report and roadmap outlining prioritised control measures.
These included:
- Mental health training for leaders
- Upstander intervention training to tackle unreasonable behaviour
- External debriefing sessions for trauma exposure
- Mentorship programs for new leaders
- Review of EAP effectiveness
By implementing these strategies, SAHSSI began reducing psychosocial risks in the workplace, building a more resilient, connected and mentally healthy workforce.
Step 5: Review: Sustaining the Momentum
MHM’s work didn’t stop at implementation. Together with SAHSSI’s working group, we developed a plan for ongoing monitoring and evaluation, ensuring continuous improvement through:
- Regular 6–12-month reviews
- Tracking key metrics such as absenteeism and turnover
- Adjusting strategies in real time based on staff feedback
This ongoing partnership fosters a culture of adaptability, proactive management and psychological safety, all essential for long-term success.
Why Reducing Psychosocial Risks in the Workplace Matters
The SAHSSI case highlights why managing psychosocial hazards isn’t optional it’s essential.
1. Moral Responsibility: Protecting Lives
Not-for-profit employees support some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, but they face high emotional demands, limited resources, and risk of burnout. Organisations have a moral duty to protect their people just as much as the people they serve.
2️. Economic Reality: Avoiding Costly Penalties
Under WHS legislation, failure to manage psychosocial hazards can result in significant financial penalties:
- Category 1: up to $11.56 million
- Category 2: up to $2.3 million
- Category 3: up to $776,000
Investing in a structured psychosocial risk management program costs far less and prevents the financial and human toll of inaction.
3️. Legislative Compliance: Staying Ahead of Regulation
With the growing focus from SafeWork NSW and the introduction of industrial manslaughter laws, psychosocial hazards must now be managed with the same diligence as physical ones. MHM’s program ensures organisations are compliant, prepared, and protected, meeting their obligations while building mentally healthy workplaces
The MHM Difference in Reducing Psychosocial Risks at Work
MHM’s success with SAHSSI reflects our unique approach built on three foundational pillars:
Compliance
Ensuring your organisation meets WHS obligations through risk identification, mitigation and documentation.
✅ Protects your people and your business.
Culture
Creating psychologically safe environments where teams can speak up, learn and grow.
✅ Builds engagement, innovation and trust.
Connection
Strengthening relationships and resilience through mental fitness, education and lived experience storytelling.
✅ Improves wellbeing, belonging and performance.
Together, these pillars transform workplaces from reactive to proactive, ensuring that mental health is not just a box to tick but a standard to live by.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’d like to explore how your workplace could start reducing psychosocial risks in the workplace, download the SAHSSI Case Study and our team will reach out to discuss how we can support your organisation through our Psychosocial Risk Management Program or Mental Health Workplace Blueprint
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