Perception Matters for Work Wellbeing Success with Dr Michelle Smidt

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Gareth Beck, Safety Wellbeing and Risk Business Partner at Z Energy, and Anton Hutton, retailer at Hattrick Services. They share their experiences in collaborating to implement a psychosocial safety management program of works within a unique working environment, with Gareth offering the perspective from Z Energy, and Anton providing his experiences as a retailer.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Michelle Smidt, Senior Research Assistant at ANU College of Business and Economics, and Queensland University of Technology. Michelle shares insights from her PhD research, where she explored whether employee perceptions about organisational wellbeing initiatives influenced whether those initiatives achieved their outcomes.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Ben Searle, an Organisational Psychologist with particular expertise in burnout and stress. Ben shares his own experience of burnout while working in academia, reflecting on the way symptoms presented that were not "textbook", and how that influenced his ability to understand what was happening. We discuss how listeners might recognise signs and symptoms of burnout in others, and how to approach a conversation. Ben then goes on to share insights and strategies for employers to consider in managing and preventing burnout.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Wen Fan, Associate Professor of Sociology at Boston College. We explore her recently published research into whether a 4-day work week impacts worker wellbeing. She gives us some answers to the big questions: How should organisations approach preparing to transition to a 4-day work week? Does a 4-day work week lead to better mental and physical health outcomes? Does a 4-day work week lead to worse organisational outcomes?

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Monique Crane, Founder of the Research Resilience and Training Systems team at Macquarie University. Monique joins us to talk about the research she has been conducting with the Australian Navy, exploring mental health trajectories across Navy deployments. We discuss the role of job design as a determinant of mental health, and the aspects of job design that appear to be more important for the mental health of Navy personnel.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Dr Megan Tranter, CEO and Founder of Purpose Pathfinders. We chat about her latest book, Clarity in Chaos - Lead with purpose in disruptive times. We explore the intersection between psychosocial safety and human sustainability, connection to purpose, and the role that leaders and employers can play in redesigning work to be a force for good.

In this special crossover podcast episode, the tables are turned as Bronwyn Milkins of the Mental Work podcast interviews normal co-host Jason van Schie on the topic of psychosocial hazards. In this lively conversation aimed at early career psychologists, they discuss what psychosocial hazards are and why they are important to manage. Jason provides practical guidance relevant for this group of workers (and a more general audience) on what can be done at an organisational-level and individual-level to protect psychological health from psychosocial hazards that can’t be eliminated, including consideration of the hierarchy of controls.

What really makes work meaningful? In this episode, Jason and Joelle sit down with Dr Mark Fabian, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Warwick and author of Beyond Happy. Together, they explore how work shapes our sense of purpose, the difference between self‑actualisation and self‑optimisation, and the often overlooked character traits that truly matter in the workplace.If you’ve ever wondered whether work can (or should) be more than just a way to earn a living, this conversation will challenge your thinking and offer fresh insights into finding fulfilment beyond productivity.Learn more about Dr Mark Fabian:Find his book Beyond Happy here: harpercollins.com.au/9781835010501/beyond-happyLearn more about him via his website: sites.google.com/view/markfabian/homeContent Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Liz Payne, Chair of the ACT/NSW College of Organisational Psychologists, and returning chair of the Psych Health and Safety Conference (PHSCON 2025). During this conversation, Liz, Joelle and Jason recap highlights from the PHSCON 2025. This included going over the live podcast recordings with Rob Briner and Adam Grant, the conversations had with thought leaders and trailblazers including Mary Ann Baynton, Chris Jones, Wade Needham, Dr I. David Daniels, Kanae Dyas, Dr Anna Cody, and Elizabeth Broderick, and case studies on international approaches to psych health and safety, and bringing HR and WHS together. Missed the conference but wish you didn't? Don’t worry, you can catch up on every session and experience PHSCON 2025 on demand - See our website for details: psychhealthandsafetyconference.com/post-conference-access/

In this episode, hosts Jason and Joelle chat with returning guest Dr John Chan, managing director of Infinite Potential. John joins us to discuss the latest iteration of his annual publication, The State of Workplace Burnout. He shares what's similar and what's different to previous year's findings, and the main trends emerging in 2025. https://infinite-potential.com.au/the-state-of-burnout-2025