Engaging stakeholders effectively allows WorkSafe to operate more efficiently. By tapping into external expertise, knowledge, and experience, we can make more informed decisions regarding our strategic directions, planning, policies, and operations. Effective stakeholder engagement benefits everyone involved. Stakeholders bring their expertise to policy and program development, ensuring their concerns are addressed and they have a voice in the decision-making process.
WorkSafe is committed to working with stakeholders to improve health and safety outcomes in the workplace. Understanding what is most important to our stakeholders and what information they are seeking will help us in tailoring our communications and develop meaningful and useful guidance and activities.
What do we want to achieve?
To support and complement WorkSafe's strategic priorities, our communication objective is:
To educate and engage with our stakeholders by delivering information and guidance materials that are effective, coordinated and timely to improve workplace health and safety outcomes. We put our stakeholders at the centre of our communications.
We will:
- deliver targeted messaging to stakeholders informed by data and insights
- make user experiences with WorkSafe easy, integrated, coherent and consistent
- communicate in a way that is clear and easy to understand and accessible to everyone, including culturally and linguistic diverse (CaLD) populations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and remote communities, vulnerable workers and others with accessibility limitations
- engage with stakeholders through digital channels to deliver sustained work health and safety information and guidance, listen and respond to questions and provide specific advice
- provide evidence-based information and guidance materials that meet user needs, influencing behaviour change
- act in a way that is ethical, transparent and be open to review and feedback.
We have a number of formal committees to facilitate stakeholder engagement. There are also standing committees and working groups formed for specific issues or projects.
Committees and bodies mandated by legislation
The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 provides for the establishment of:
- Work Health and Safety Commission (WHSC)
- Mining and Petroleum Advisory Committee (MAPAC)
- Work Health and Safety Tribunal.
Work Health and Safety Commission
The Work Health and Safety Commission (previously known as the Commission for Occupational Safety and Health) consists of employers, employees and government representatives and people with expertise and knowledge in work health and safety matters. The WHSC:
- is the peak consultative forum on work health and safety in Western Australia
- liaises with WorkSafe, a division of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety that administers and enforces work health and safety laws in Western Australia.
The functions of the WHSC are outlined in section 18 of the WHS Act.
Mining and Petroleum Advisory Committee
The Mining and Petroleum Advisory Committee was established under the Act to provide advice to the Minister and to the WHSC. The MAPAC:
- is a consultative forum for work safety and health matters affecting the mining and petroleum industries
- liaises with WorkSafe, a division of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety that administers and enforces work health and safety laws in Western Australia.