Health, Safety and Wellbeing

Program overview

Want to build a school community where everyone contributes to health, safety, and wellbeing? 

Health, safety and wellbeing will empower you to understand and implement the fundamentals of effective occupational health and safety management. This full-day workshop provides practical tools and strategies to create a positive safety culture and manage risks for staff and students. You’ll leave feeling confident, connected to key supports and ready to lead a strong school community where a focus on health, safety and wellbeing makes a real difference. 

What you’ll learn

• Design a positive safety and wellbeing culture. Explore strategies and tools to foster a safe and supportive school environment
• Gain leadership confidence. Learn the skills, tools and concepts to become an effective wellbeing leader.
• Master school-based risk management. Understand your health, safety and wellbeing responsibilities and use available tools to manage physical and psychological hazards.  

Participant feedback

"Presenters were engaging and training was interactive."

"Best OHS course I have ever been on" 

"Great overall coverage" 

"Engaging presenters. The idea of having a principal presenting and delivering on her experiences should be encouraged. Well thought through.”

Program highlights

• Network and learn from other school leaders across Victoria
• Prepare for Occupational Health and Safety Assurance visits by understanding the OHS Management System
• Use the Safe and Well in Education Framework to understand accountability and safety responsibilities at all levels
• Learn how to access the department’s new OHS Services Team for hands-on support to complete OHS and Emergency Management tasks
• Reflect on your self-care and wellbeing strategies as leaders, and strengthen your skills in supportive conversations
• Update your schools OHS risk register (hazards and controls) during the session
• Review your schools OHS activities calendar to identify key personnel and scheduling of required OHS activities.   

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Expert facilitators

This workshop has been co-developed by the Department of Education’s Employee Safety, Wellbeing and Inclusion Division and a master facilitator from Ernst & Young.

Christine Finighan

Christine worked as a teacher and school principal across her career and brings with her a wealth of knowledge from her over 25 years of experience educating children and in school leadership roles, before retiring. She has a passion for health and safety and understands the importance of mental health within a safety context. Chris enjoyed developing and supporting her staff and cultivating respectful and compassionate relationships across her school community. Health, safety and wellbeing are central to Christine's education practice. Her goal now is to continue to support school staff and build their capacity to make schools safer places, where everyone thrives when we all play our part.

Who should apply

Roles

This program is designed for school leadership, including:

• principals
• assistant principals
• aspiring principals
• business managers
• OHS delegates. 

This workshop is ideal preparation for schools that are scheduled to undertake their OHS Assurance visit.  

School sectors

This program is only available to the Victorian Government sector. 

Structure

Delivery

This is a full-day workshop that runs 9:00 am – 4:30 pm, online or in person. Post-workshop support and resources are provided.

Pre-workshop preparation

• Locate and familiarise yourself with your school’s OHS risk register and OHS activities calendar. Templates are available on the Policy and Advisory Library.
• Come to the workshop with an OHS issue to explore.

Learning outcomes

• Gain knowledge of how to create a shared culture of responsibility.
• Contribute to your health, safety, and wellbeing support network.
• Develop skills to prevent and respond to health and safety risks and challenges.
• Understand how to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in your school community.

Fees and support

Fully subsidised by the Department of Education for Victorian government school participants.