Health, Safety and Wellbeing Award Finalists
Recognises and celebrates innovative initiatives and solutions development by an individual or team to promote, enhance or protect the health, safety and wellness of our staff and students.
Joshua Blacklock, Student Central
Joshua Blacklock has transformed student wellbeing through innovative psychosocial training for over 80 student leaders. Drawing on his expertise as a registered psychologist and University of Newcastle alumnus, Joshua’s work equips leaders with tools to manage boundaries, navigate complex situations, and feel confident in their roles. His ongoing coaching and workshops foster a culture of psychological safety and empowerment, going well beyond his role’s expectations and making a lasting impact on the University’s student experience.
Disability Confidence Training
Dr Katie Butler and Dr Olivia Whalen
Dr Katie Butler and Dr Olivia Whalen co-founded and implemented Disability Confidence Training to support and advocate for staff and students with disabilities. Delivered to 685 staff since December 2022, this training promotes awareness of disability, reduces stigma, and addresses systemic barriers and psychosocial risks. With an Accessibility Champions Network of over 550 members, the training empowers staff through universal design strategies, to create safer, more inclusive environments to foster cultural change and improve wellbeing across the University community.
Lilly Dougherty, School of Environmental and Life Sciences
Lilly Dougherty has delivered practical, innovative solutions to pressing safety risks in chemical storage and laboratory documentation. Lilly independently reorganised chemical storage to ensure proper segregation, implemented a clear labelling system, updated Chemwatch records, and refreshed health and safety documentation on SharePoint. Her work has significantly reduced risk, improved compliance, and embedded sustainable systems that strengthen the University’s operations and safety culture.
Enhancing Psychosocial Safety
Megan Clark, Acushla Monday, and Helen Scobie
Human Resource Services team, in partnership with the Resources Division Work Health and Safety (WHS) Committee, led a proactive initiative to identify, assess and address psychosocial risks. Through extensive staff consultation, a tailored risk assessment framework, practical interventions, and continuous evaluation, the team created a safer, more supportive workplace culture. The initiative has empowered managers, improved staff wellbeing, and normalised open dialogue about wellbeing, setting a benchmark for psychosocial safety that can be scaled across the University.
Rachael Howard, Indigenous Education and Research
Rachael Howard has demonstrated outstanding leadership in promoting health, safety, and wellbeing through the Wollotuka Women’s Group. Held each Wednesday, this safe, culturally rich space supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, staff, and community women to connect, heal, and support one another. Activities such as weaving, cooking with bush tucker, kangaroo cloak making, and genealogy workshops enhance cultural pride, resilience and belonging. Rachael’s initiative provides a trusted space for women to share and strengthen cultural journeys.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.