Inquiry into mental health impacts of FIFO work arrangements

Inquiry status:

Past

Date commenced:

20 Aug 2014

Tabling date:

18 Jun 2015

Date Ended:

18 Jun 2015

Committee

Education and Health Standing Committee (2013 - 2017)

House:

Legislative Assembly

Important Information:

Terms of Reference:

That the Education and Health Standing Committee inquire into:

(a) the contributing factors that may lead to mental illness and suicide amongst FIFO workers;
(b) the current legislation, regulations, policies and practices for workplace mental health in Western Australia; and
(c) current initiatives by government, industry and community, and recommend improvements.

Submission Number	Submitting person/organisation
	Mr David Perich (Director of All-Things-Business Useful Inc.) and Ms Traci Gamblin (Senior Manager Development, Volunteering WA) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Ms Meredith Hammat (Secretary, Unions WA Incorporated) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Mr Lance McCallum (National Policy Officer, Electrical Trades Union of Australia) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Dr Karl O'Callaghan APM (Commissioner of Police, Western Australia Police) received on 30 Sep 2014
	Mr Michael Tunnecliffe (Director, BSS Employee Asisstance) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Professor Gary Hulse School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia) received on 25 Sep 2014
	Mr John Nicolaou (Chief Officer, Member Services and Advocacy, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia received on 3 Oct 2014
	Mr Roger Martin (Vice President, Coporate Affairs, Woodside Energy Ltd) received on 30 Sep 2014
	The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia received on 1 Oct 2014
	Mental Illness Fellowship of WA Inc. received on 24 Sep 2014
	Mr Gary Cooper (Principal Registrar, Coroner's Court of Western Australia received on 22 Sep 2014
	Mr Andrew Watts (Senior Associate, Creating Communities Ptyl Ltd) and Ms Nicole Ashby (Founder and Managing Director, FIFO Families Pty Ltd) received on 30 Sep 2014
	Ms Sabina Leitmann (WA Branch President, Australian Association of Social Workers) received on 30 Sep 2014
	Mr Godfrey Baronie (Chief Executive Officer, Mates in Construction WA Limited) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Mr Simon Bennison (Chief Executive Officer, Association of Mining and Exploration Companies) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Mr Brian Bradley (Director General, Department of Commerce) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Mr Mick Buchan (State Secretary, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Construction and General Division, WA Divisional Branch) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Mr Tristan Menalda (Senior Industry Policy Adviser, Australian Mines and Metals Association) received on 30 Sep 2014
	Mr Stedman Ellis (Chief Operating Officer - Western Region, Australasian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association received on 26 Sep 2014
	beyondblue received on 30 Sep 2014
	Ms Linda Morich (Occuptional, Health and Safety Organiser, The Maritime Union of Australia WA Branch) received on 30 Sep 2014
	Ms Vanessa McDonald (City of Karratha) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Mr Steve McCartney (State Secretary, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union WA Branch) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Mr Richard Sellers (Director General, Department of Mines and Petroleum) received on 25 Sep 2014
	Mental Health Commission received on 13 Oct 2014
	Mr Tony Holland (Chief Executive Officer, OzHelp Foundation Ltd.) received on 24 Sep 2014
	Mr Peter Fairclough (General Manager Policy Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Australia Pty Ltd) received on 30 Sep 2014
	Mr Julius Matthys (Vice President Corporate Affairs, BHP Billiton Western Australia) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Ms Sandra Boulter (Principal Solicitor, General Manager, Mental Health Law Centre WA Inc.) received on 25 Sep 2014
	Dr Keith Hampson (Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre, Curtin University) received on 25 Sep 2014
	Ms Lisa Laschon (WA Manager, ReachOut.com by Inspire Foundation) received on 23 Sep 2014
	Dr Peter Connaughton (Occuptional Physician) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Ms Helen Robinson (Manager Mental Health, Homelessness and Youth Services, MercyCare) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Ms Trudi Horler (Perth Positive Psychology Practitioners) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Dr Michael Gannon (President, Australian Medical Association Western Australia) received on 1 Oct 2014
	Mr Bill Townsend (General Manager, External Affairs and Joint Ventures, INPEX Operations Australia Pty Ltd received on 10 Oct 2014
	Mr Andrew Harding (Chief Executive, Iron Ore, China, Korea and Japan, Rio Tinto) received on 30 Sep 2014
	Ms Philipa Vojnovic (FIFO Australian Community of Excellence Network) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Ms Julie Loveny and Ms Sue Crock (This FIFO Life) received on 26 Sep 2014
	Mr Shanahan (Director, Energy and Minerals Institute, The University of Western Australia) received on 2 Oct 2014
	Ms Jodie Holbrook (Policy Manager - Community, WALGA) received on 2 Oct 2014
	Mr Reg Howard-Smith (Chief Executive, Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA) received on 12 Feb 2015
	Mr Michael Tunnecliffe (Clinical Psychologist, Director, BSS Employee Assistance) received on 13 Feb 2015
	Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Construction and General Division, WA Divisional Branch received on 23 Feb 2015
	Mr Wimpie Du Toit (Vice President and Head of Human Resources: Australasia, Gold Fields Australia Pty Ltd) received on 15 Feb 2015
	Ms Melanie Stutsel (Director/Health, Safety and Environment, Minerals Council of Australia) received on 13 Feb 2015
	Mr Steve McCartney (WA State Secretary, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union) received on 29 Jan 2015
	Mr Richard Sellers (Director General, Department of Mines and Petroleum) received on 23 Jan 2015
	Ms Ruth Murdoch (Director, Acorn Life Path Pty Ltd) received on 28 Oct 2014
	Mr Grahame Marshall (Chief Executive Officer, Royal Flying Doctor Service) received on 21 Jan 2015
	Ms Meredith Hammat (Secretary, Unions WA) received on 29 Jan 2015
	Dr Herbert Biggs (Principal Research Fellow and Project Leader, Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre) received on 28 Jan 2015
	Ms Wendy Attenborough (A/Chief Executive Officer, WorkCover WA received on 21 Jan 2015
	Mr Paul Ryan (Upstream Communications Manager, Shell Australia) received on 5 Feb 2015
	Mr Patrick Gilroy (Secretary, Occuptional Health Society of Australia - WA Branch) received on 11 Feb 2015
	Ms Tania Hohaia (Safe Balance) received on 3 Feb 2015
	Dr Peter Connaughton (Consultant Occupational Physician) received on 29 Jan 2015
	Mr Simon Bennison (Chief Executive Officer, Association of Mining and Exploration Companies) received on 29 Jan 2015
	Ms Fiona Kalaf (Chief Executive Officer, Lifeline) received on 29 Jan 2015
	Mr Roger Martin (Vice President Corporate Affairs, Woodside Energy Limited) received on 21 Jan 2015
	Mr Richard Wiltshire (Director, Workplace Chaplains International) received on 29 Jan 2015
	Mr John Nicoloau (Chief Officer, Member Services and Advocacy, Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA) received on 9 Feb 2015
	Mr Bill Townsend (General Manager External Affairs & Joint Ventures, INPEX Operations Australia Pty Ltd) received on 27 Jan 2015
	Mr Timothy Marney (Commissioner, Mental Health Commission) received on 6 Feb 2015
	Mr Brian Bradley (Director General, Department of Commerce) received on 19 Jan 2015
	Mr Stedman Ellis (Chief Operating Office - Western Australia, Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association) received on 6 Feb 2015
	Dr David Cutts (Consultant Psychiatrist, Nickol Bay Hospital Karratha) received on 9 Feb 2015
	Ms Ruth Murdoch (Director, Acorn Life Path Pty Ltd) received on 29 Jan 2015
	Mr Tim Langmead (Director External Relations, Fortescue Metals Group Limited) received on 29 Jan 2015
	Mr Tristan Menalda (Senior Industry Policy Adviser, Australian Mines and Metals Association) received on 29 Jan 2015
	Ms Kerry White (Shire President, Shire of Ashburton) received on 21 Jan 2015
	Professor Fiona Haslam McKenzie (Curtin Business School) received on 28 Jan 2015
	Mr Mike Sutton (COO Open Cut West, Downer EDI Mining Pty Ltd) received on 29 Jan 2015
	Mr Julius Matthys (Vice President Corporate Affairs, BHP Billiton Western Australia) received on 2 Feb 2015
	Mr Andrew Harding (Chief Executive, Iron Ore, China, Korea and Japan, Rio Tinto) received on 9 Feb 2015
	Dr Jennifer Bowers (CEO/MD, Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health) received on 25 Feb 2015
	Mr Richard Sellers (Director General, Department of Mines and Petroleum) received on 22 Apr 2015
	Mr Richard Sellers (Director General, Department of Mines and Petroleum) received on 4 May 2015
	Mr Ken Pettit, SC (Francis Burt Chambers) received on 24 Apr 2015
	Ms Veronica Macpherson (Chief Executive Offier, MACRO Realty Development) received on 16 Apr 2015
	Mr Jamie Bennett (Executive Officer, OutdoorsWA) received on 17 Apr 2015
	Mr Tim Langmead (Director External Relations, Fortescue Metals Group) received on 15 Apr 2015
	Mr Steven Stanbrook received on 10 Apr 2015
	Mr Mark Donovan (Head of Corporate Affairs, BHP Billiton) received on 28 Apr 2015
	Mr Lyndon Anlezark received on 18 May 2015
	Mr Richard Sellers (Director General, Department of Mines and Petroleum) received on 15 May 2015

Unless a venue is specified, hearings are held at the
Legislative Assembly Committee Rooms, Level 2, 2 Parliament Place, West Perth

Date	Time	Venue	Organisation	Witness
22 Oct 2014	09:30 AM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room One	Department of Mines and Petroleum
22 Oct 2014	10:45 AM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room One	WorkSafe
03 Nov 2014	10:00 AM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room One	BeyondBlue (via Video Conference)
03 Nov 2014	11:15 AM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room One	Australian Manufacturing Workers Union
03 Nov 2014	01:00 PM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room One	Association of Mining Exploration Companies
03 Nov 2014	02:15 PM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room One	Lifeline WA
05 Nov 2014	10:00 AM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room One	FIFO Families (with Creating Communities)
05 Nov 2014	11:15 AM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room One	Mates in Construction
05 Nov 2014	01:00 PM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room One	Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union
05 Nov 2014	02:15 PM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room One	Chamber of Minerals and Energy
05 Nov 2014	03:30 PM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room One	Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association
12 Nov 2014	10:30 AM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room One		Mr & Mrs Miller
25 Feb 2015	09:30 AM	Legisliative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room 4	This FIFO Life	Ms Julie Loveny & Ms Sue Crock
25 Feb 2015	10:45 AM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room 4	Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health	Ms Jennifer Bowers
11 Mar 2015	10:30 AM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room 1	FIFO Australia Centre for Excellence (FACE)
16 Mar 2015	11:30 AM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room 1	Unions WA	Mr Owen Whittle (Assistant Secretary) and Mr Tim Dymond (Organising and Strategic Research Officer)
16 Mar 2015	01:00 PM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room 1	Acorn Life Path	Ms Ruth Murdoch (Director)
16 Mar 2015	02:00 PM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room 1	Fortescue Metals Group	Mr Tim Langmead (Director External Relations) and Mr Robert Watson (Group Manager Health and Safety)
16 Mar 2015	03:30 PM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room 1	Downer EDI	Mr Mike Boyle (Executive GM Zero Harm), Ms Donna Viner (Health Advisor Employee Support) and Ms Natasha Palethorpe (Regional Health Advisor)
25 Mar 2015	10:30 AM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room 1		Dr Nathan Gibson (Chief Psychiatrist) and Dr Simon Byrne (Psychiatrist)
06 May 2015	09:30 AM	Legislative Assembly Committee Office - Meeting Room 2	Chevron

Related Transcripts of Evidence:

•

Evidence by.. Mr Lex McCulloch (Executive Director/Commissioner, WorkSafe Western Australia), Mr Ian Munns (Director, Policy and Education, WorkSafe Western Australia) and Ms Jean Mangharam (Principal Scientific Officer/Inspector, Human Factors and Ergonomics Team, WorkSafe Western Australia) on 22 Oct 2014

•

Evidence by.. Mr Simon Ridge (Executive Director, Resources Safety Division, Department of Mines and Petroleum) on 22 Oct 2014

•

Evidence by.. Ms Fiona-Marie Kalaf (Chief Executive Officer, Lifeline WA) on 3 Nov 2014

•

Evidence by.. Ms Georgie Harman (Chief Executive Officer, beyondblue) on 3 Nov 2014

•

Evidence by.. Mr Simon Bennison (Chief Executive Officer) and Mr Graham Short (National Policy Manager) Association of Mining and Exploration Companies on 3 Nov 2014

•

Evidence by.. Mr Steve McCartney (Secretary, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union) on 3 Nov 2014

•

Evidence by.. Mr Stedman Ellis (Chief Operating Officer, Western Region, Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association) and Mr Andrew Woodhams (Director, HSE, Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association) on 5 Nov 2014

•

Evidence by.. Mr Godfrey Baronie (Chief Executive Officer, MATES in Construction WA) on 5 Nov 2014

•

Evidence by.. Ms Nicole Roocke (Deputy Chief Executive, Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA), Ms Adrienne Labombard (Manager,Workplace Health and Safety, Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA), Mr Emmanuel Hondros (Manager, People Strategies, Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA) and Ms Jennifer Rumbles (Policy Adviser, Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA) on 5 Nov 2014

•

Evidence by.. Mr Michael Buchan (State Secretary, CFMEU, Construction and General) and Mr Graham Pallot (Assistant Secretary, North West Coordinator, CFMEU, Construction and General) on 5 Nov 2014

•

Evidence by.. Ms Jennifer Bowers (CEO, Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health) on 25 Feb 2015

•

Evidence by.. Ms Susan Crock (Consultant Social Worker, This FIFO Life) and Ms Julie Loveny (Consultant Social Worker, This FIFO Life) on 25 Feb 2015

•

Evidence by.. Ms Philippa Vojnovic (Co-convenor, FACE), Dr Paul Pule (Scholar in Masculinities and Director, MenAlive Australia and FACE), Mrs Elizabeth Brook (Researcher, FACE Network), Mr Scott Bartlett (Member, FACE) and Dr Susanne Bahn (Member, FACE, Tap Into Safety; Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Edith Cowan University) on 11 Mar 2015

•

Evidence by.. Mr Owen Whittle (Assistant Secretary, UnionsWA) and Dr Tim Dymond (Research Officer, UnionsWA) on 16 Mar 2015

•

Evidence by.. Mr Michael Boyle (Executive General Manager, Zero Harm, Downer EDI Mining), Ms Donna Viner (Psychologist-Regional Health Adviser, Downer Mining) and Ms Natasha Palethorpe (Art Psychotherapist-Regional Health Adviser, Downer Mining) on 16 Mar 2015

•

Evidence by.. Mr Robert Watson (Group Manager, Health and Safety, Fortescue Metals Group) and Mr Timothy Langmead (Director, External Relations, Fortescue Metals Group) on 16 Mar 2015

•

Evidence by.. Ms Ruth Murdoch (Director, Acorn Life Path Pty Ltd) on 16 Mar 2015

•

Evidence by.. Dr Nathan Gibson (Chief Psychiatrist, Office of the Chief Psychiatrist) and Dr Simon Byrne (Psychiatrist) on 25 Mar 2015

•

Evidence by.. Ms Kaye Butler (General Manager, Human Resources, Chevron Australia) and Mr Michael Tunnecliffe (Clincial Psychologist, BSS Employee Assistance) on 6 May 2015

Related Reports:

Report No	Title	Date tabled	Related documents
5	The impact of FIFO work practices on mental health: Final Report	18 Jun 2015	More...
4	Shining a Light on FIFO Mental Health - A Discussion Paper	27 Nov 2014

Members conducting inquiry

Members:

Dr Graham Gibson Jacobs MLA
Ms Rita Saffioti MLA
Ms Janine Marie Freeman MLA
Hon. Robert (Rob) Frank Johnson MLA
Mr Murray John Cowper MLA

Staff Members:

Ms Lucy Roberts (Acting Principal Research Officer)
Mr Daniel Govus (Research Officer)