October is National Safe Work Month – a time to commit to building safe and healthy workplaces for all Australians.

Each year in October, Safe Work Australia runs awareness raising initiatives as part of National Safe Work Month.

“This year’s theme is—Be a Safety Champion and we invite everyone to promote best practice work health and safety initiatives at their workplace,” Safe Work Australia CEO, Michelle Baxter said.

“During National Safe Work Month we want to recognise that workers, employees, managers, supervisors, teams and organisations can all be safety champions.

“It doesn’t matter what industry you work in, what role you do, whether you act as an individual or work as a team. We can all actively promote work health and safety.”

Safe Work Australia has developed a range of resources to promote the campaign including customisable posters, a digital brand kit, flyers, web graphics and infographics.

There is also information on what is happening in each state and territory for people who would like to participate in a local event.

The resources available on the Safe Work Australia website will assist all workplaces to participate in National Safe Work Month and promote the Be a Safety Champion theme.

“This October everyone can be champions for work health and safety—we can all build a more positive work health and safety culture,” Ms Baxter said.

“Use the hashtag #safetychampion to give a shout out to the champions in your workplace.”

Chamber champions safety

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) network, which includes AREEA and by extension its members, has launched a number of safety and health initiatives following the theme of “Be a safety champion”.

ACCI has released the below video on social media to introduce the month and its positive take on the theme, while encouraging others to also get involved.

It’s National Safe Work Month! Take a minute to share your safety moment and recognise a #safetychampion you work with this October. #safeworkmonth @AusChamberCEO pic.twitter.com/TcRmOk9sRE

— Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI) (@ACCINews) October 1, 2019

Last year for Safe Work month, ACCI encouraged members to wear the embroidered Hi-Viz vests, and encourages businesses to again wear the vest whenever staff are out of the office as a conversation starter to find out how workplaces in your industry, state or territory are championing safety.

Members are encouraged to capture and share those moments on social media with the hashtag #safetychampion.

The second week of October is Mental Health Week with World Mental Health Day on 10th October with this year’s theme of suicide prevention – a day for “40 seconds of action”.

ACCI will be encouraging everyone to share their #40seconds of action for #WorldMentalHealthDay on social media. This may include promoting awareness of suicide, checking in with a mate or looking after your own mental health.