Safer, healthier workplaces are for everyone, every day. Work Well 365 by accessing health, safety and return to work events and resources all year round.
Our leading experts discussed how to consult with workers effectively, mastering four essential mental health conversations in the workplace and managing airborne contaminants in the workplace.
Each session will provide you with practical advice to immediately start improving health and safety, rehabilitation and return to work outcomes in your workplace.
Catch up on any Work Well Speaker Series livestreams you missed during Safe Work Month.
How to consult with workers effectively
Date of recording: Friday 4 October
Presenter: Rebecca Parnell, Safety manager – Bega Group
Download the 'How to consult with workers effectively' Powerpoint slides
Mastering four essential mental health conversations in the workplace
Date of recording: Friday 11 October
Presenter: Mechelen D’Souza, Operations Manager – Resilia Rehabilitation
Managing airborne contaminants in the workplace
Date of recording: Friday 18 October
Presenter:Peter Aspinall, Technical Executive, Occupational Hygiene – WSP Australia Pty Limited
Speakers
Rebecca is a safety manager with over two decades of experience across the food manufacturing, logistics, storage, and warehousing industries. Her extensive multidisciplinary expertise spans safety, quality, research and development and injury management, making her a deeply valued member of site steering groups.
Throughout her career, Rebecca has held key management roles in trusted brands like Arnott's, GrainCorp, Inghams, Primo, Green Endeavour and Bega where she’s known for making key connections, leading consultative and inclusive teams, and leveraging her ability to influence stakeholders. Her dedication to Health, Safety, Security, Environment, and Quality (HSSEQ) leadership drives her pursuit of zero harm to people and the environment.
Mechelen is a corporate psychologist with extensive experience guiding leaders and executives through career and personal wellbeing challenges. She leads a team of senior consultants specialising in ‘well check’ services, psychological assessments and wellbeing coaching across industries including law, finance, pharma, retail, hospitality and government.
With over six years’ experience as a rehabilitation consultant in occupational rehabilitation, Mechelen has mastered the management of complex psychological cases. Her expertise spans community support and in-patient programs in private mental health hospitals, with a notable focus on enhancing employee wellbeing in the corporate sector.
Her collaborative approach involves working with employers, workers, insurers, doctors and allied health practitioners. Mechelen’s consultancy supports national companies in managing and retaining a productive workforce through thorough case reviews, risk triaging and ongoing rehabilitation—fostering environments that promote employee growth and success.
Peter brings over 20 years of practical experience in occupational hygiene and allied health roles across Australia and New Zealand. His career spans both consulting and corporate hygiene roles in diverse sectors, including mining, oil and gas, public health, defence, construction, manufacturing and various levels of government.
Peter’s extensive background equips him to deliver comprehensive health risk assessments, exposure control guidance, and robust support for health and hygiene management programs. He holds certifications as a Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH)® with the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (MAIOH) and is a full member of the New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society (MNZOHS). Additionally, he is a registered HASANZ professional and an Associate Member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI).