Empowering leaders amid tougher WHS penalties

As workplace health and safety legislation tightens across Australia, businesses face unprecedented challenges in ensuring compliance.

Aaron Guilfoyle – Queensland’s inaugural independent Work Health and Safety Prosecutor – is at the forefront of helping leaders navigate these complexities through his new short course.

The Mastering Workplace Health and Safety course is part of UniSQ Co-Lab – a series of specialised short courses delivered by industry leaders to equip professionals with essential skills and knowledge critical for success.

Mr Guilfoyle’s course will equip leaders with actionable insights and practical guidance to safeguard their employees’ physical and psychological wellbeing and meet their legal obligations to avoid increasing penalties for noncompliance.

“The reality in this day and age is that with new legislation across the country, the penalties faced by businesses, those who lead businesses, and workers within business are unprecedented,” he said.

“More and more regulators are looking to prosecute in the event of an incident, and the penalties for noncompliance in those prosecutions are continuing to increase, and they now include imprisonment.

“This Co-Lab is about businesses and business leaders being able to understand in a practical way how to comply with their obligations in respect to work health and safety.”

UniSQ Co-Lab short courses are tailored to meet the professional development needs of leaders across industries, fostering networking opportunities and facilitating knowledge exchange.

The courses – delivered in person at the UniSQ Brisbane Study Hub at 293 Queen Street in the city – focus on cybersecurity threats and solutions, addressing employee financial stress, and mastering workplace health and safety.

Cybersecurity Threats and Solutions

• Protecting organisations from cyber threats is paramount in today’s digital landscape. Led by cybersecurity expert Adjunct Professor Neil Curtis, this course provides comprehensive insights into anticipating and mitigating cyber risks, understanding the impacts of cyber events on operations and reputation, and leveraging cyber intelligence for enhanced security. Adjunct Professor Neil Curtis – a former Chief Security Officer at DXC Technology who also worked in the military and police service – brings over two decades of experience to guide participants in implementing effective cybersecurity strategies.

Transform your financial future

• Financial stress significantly impacts workplace productivity and wellbeing. Led by finance expert Melissa Meagher, this course explores the causes and effects of financial stress on businesses. Participants will learn strategies to promote financial wellness, reduce absenteeism, and foster a more engaged workforce. Ms Meagher has over two decades of experience as a financial planner, stockbroker and seminar delivery specialist from large financial institutions such as Sunsuper, Suncorp and Westpac to boutique financial planning firms. She also founded Talking Money and will provide practical insights to empower employees with financial clarity through this course.

Mastering Workplace Health and Safety

• Ensuring the safety of colleagues and avoiding penalties are critical for business leaders. Led by Aaron Guilfoyle, Queensland’s inaugural independent Work Health and Safety Prosecutor, this course equips leaders with comprehensive knowledge of WHS obligations. Participants will gain insights into creating safe work environments and ensuring compliance across industries. Mr Guilfoyle is a highly accomplished state and federal prosecutor, serving in senior and Chief Executive government roles.

Learn more about UniSQ's Co-Lab courses.