At Hireup, we recognise that safety is about more than just your physical environment; it’s about protecting your mental wellbeing. We’ve recently completed our latest Psychosocial Hazard Risk Assessment, helping us better understand and manage workplace factors that impact health, ensuring we continue to build a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
Understanding psychosocial hazards
A psychosocial hazard is any aspect of work that could impact your mental or physical health, such as stress, lack of role clarity, or workplace relationships. Safe Work Australia list the following common workplace psychosocial hazards:
- Job demands
- Job insecurity
- Fatigue
- Poor support
- Lack of role clarity
- Poor organisational change management
- Inadequate award recognition
- Poor organisational justice
- Traumatic events or material
- Low job control
- Remote or isolated work
- Intrusive surveillance
- Poor physical environment
- Violence and aggression
- Bullying
- Harassment including sexual harassment
-
Conflict or poor workplace relationships & interaction
Psychosocial hazard risk assessment
In July 2026, Hireup finalised our second Psychosocial Hazard Risk Assessment (the first was in 2023). The Risk Assessment process included the People At Work survey, a number of focus groups and an analysis of 3 years of data.
We would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the Support Workers who took the time to participate in the People At Work survey and to those who contributed via a focus group. Your insights and experiences have been invaluable in shaping our understanding of psychosocial hazards. A special thank you to the members of our Support Worker WHS Working group, a dedicated team of support workers who provide direct feedback on our safety systems, for their ongoing dedication and contributions to the safety of the Hireup community.
Findings and actions
Here is what we heard from you, and the steps we are taking in response:
Peer Connection: We heard that you want more opportunities to connect with your Support Worker peers, so we are looking at ways to facilitate that through our online learning spaces and other face-to-face opportunities.
Role Clarity: We heard that sometimes you need more information in client support plans and job descriptions to know if a shift is the right fit for you. In response, we are continuing to refine our systems to ensure client profiles are kept accurate and up to date, giving you clearer details before you accept a booking.
Safety and Client Behaviour: We heard about the physical and emotional impact of navigating difficult client behavioural episodes on shift. To better protect you, we are actively tracking the effectiveness of our current safety controls, like specialised behaviour plans and incident response processes, to make sure they are working well.
Workplace Relationships and Boundaries: We heard that managing professional boundaries can be challenging, and that relationship breakdowns can cause significant stress, especially when spending a lot of hours with a single client. To support you through this, we are reviewing our training modules with a focus on safety, professional boundaries, and managing fatigue.
Our ongoing commitment
Creating a safe and supportive environment is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to continuing regular psychosocial hazard assessments to ensure our safety measures evolve alongside the needs of our community. We will keep listening, learning, and refining our approach, and we invite you to continue sharing your feedback.
Where can I learn more or get support?
Sonder: Your mental wellbeing and safety are our priority. Sonder is there for you to help you navigate challenging days and debrief after a complex shift
Safe Work Australia: Psychosocial hazards
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the risk assessment further, please contact us at injurymanagement@hireup.com.au or let us know via our Work Health and Safety (WHS) Concern form.