Ambassador workplace visits
We encourage Queensland businesses to show their commitment to health, safety and protecting workers from psychological harm, intervening early and supporting recovery in their workplaces by hosting an industry health, safety or mental health event.
Your business can apply for one of our Ambassadors to attend your event and share their story to increase awareness and influence behaviour change.
Please note that events will need to follow Queensland Health COVID-19 directives and ensure appropriate social distancing (as outlined in current health directives) is in place. You must have a COVID Safe Plan or WHS plan for managing the risk associated with COVID-19 for staff, and for the protection of visitors to your workplace.
Hayley Lewis
Former Olympic gold medallist, small business owner and psychological health champion Hayley Lewis is proud to be Queensland’s Mental Health Ambassador. Hayley has actively pushed for better mental health awareness since her sister took her own life in 2004.
Attendance by an Ambassador at your industry event can assist with:
- increasing industry and workplace awareness about the importance of work health and safety and protecting workers from psychological harm
- highlight the personal impacts that an injury or illness can have on workers and their families
- prompt discussion about work health and safety
- reduce stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness
- encourage employers and workers to develop work health and safety solutions together.
Appropriate activities for the Ambassadors to participate in include:
- giving a keynote address (minimum presentation time is 40 minutes, maximum is an hour)
- presenting awards/prizes (only if a speaking opportunity is also provided).
Example activities that are not suitable for ambassadors.
- Workplace tours
- General morning tea/lunch/BBQ event
- Networking with no focus or speaker program
- Toolbox talks
- Full day attendance
- Multiple events (subject to approval, OIR will fund one event). Additional appearances will be at the cost of the applicant as a private booking)
- Organisations not covered by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
An event at which an Ambassador is requested to attend must meet strict criteria and is subject to approval on a case by case basis. Approval and Ambassador availability is not guaranteed. Please allow four weeks between your application and your event date if possible.
The event must:
- Involve a single appearance only. Multiple appearances / sites will be considered on a case by case basis
- provide an opportunity for the Ambassador to appear as a speaker at Queensland workplace-based and/or industry led safety events, speaking to Queensland workers covered by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (minimum presentation time 40 mins, maximum presentation time one hour)
- be supported by industry and industry bodies
- be operated by a reputable company
- be a work health and safety event, with a program of work health and safety speaker/s or work health and safety topics for discussion.
- include an event program with a number of speakers. The Ambassador must not be the sole speaker. An event program outline must be supplied with your application
- be free for participants to attend
- extend invitations to supply chain or industry/neighbouring companies
- provide credit to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland in the program where the Ambassador is noted or introduced (e.g., "Queensland Mental Health Ambassador Hayley Lewis appears courtesy of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland") and in any associated media or social media promotions.
- follow any current Queensland Health directives regarding COVID-19 with all attendees abiding by social distancing rules to ensure the safety of the Ambassador and your event attendees and staff.
Please note, all criteria above are mandatory for your request to be considered. You may be contacted by a Workplace Health and Safety Queensland representative for further information or clarification before we progress your application for approval.
No audio recording or filming is permitted during Ambassador presentations and appearances. Livestream events are considered on application.
In assessing the application, the Office of Industrial Relations will consider whether the event supports our corporate goals and objectives, including:
- increase effectiveness of strategic programs
- enhance corporate identity and reputation
- encourage industry/community engagement
- promote Queensland Government initiatives to relevant target audiences and priority industries
- focus on building and enhancing existing relationships
- encourage key stakeholders to participate in important issues and initiatives.
Requests for appearances at industry events will be considered by the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland Executive Management team. If declined by the executive, and event organisers still wish to engage an Ambassador, we can provide event organisers with the contact details for the Ambassador's management to negotiate an appearance directly. Costs in this instance will be borne by the event organiser.
Please note: Our Ambassadors have other work commitments outside their Ambassador roles, which may impact on their ability to attend events. Travel outside of Brisbane on weekdays may limit the timing of presentations or ability to attend.
Make sure your industry safety event meets all criteria before you submit your request for an Ambassador to attend, however availability is not guaranteed. We will do everything we can to have the Ambassador attend appropriate industry events, however their availability is not guaranteed. Please consider one of our Safety advocates as an alternative if you are unable to meet the Ambassador criteria.