Welcome to our Lowering the Ladder series - a selection of interviews designed to inspire, empower, and encourage women in the health and safety profession. Those times when we lower the ladder to help someone up or are encouraged to climb the ladder ourselves, can be turning points in our lives, supporting us as individuals, and the profession as a whole.
Thank you to all our wonderful wāhine who are happy to share their stories!
Susie Ratnakar, H&S Advisor, Boffa Miskell, Christchurch
Lisa Taylor, Snr Health, Safety & Wellness Advisor, Ministry for the Environment
Min Tobenhouse, Health & Safety Coordinator, FAST Harvesting Ltd
Robyn Bennett, OHS Consultant and NZISM President
Jo Prigmore, National Manager Health & Safety, Fulton Hogan
Agnès Khyn - Health Safety Security Environment Advisor, Stantec NZ
Marcia Bueno, Managing Director, MB2 Consultants
We'd love to share your OHS story too. Just download the question set and email it to kate@healthandsafetycoach.co.nz
Women in Safety II
Living Safety II - Candis Hawkins
In the fourth session of our Women in Safety series Safety II specialist, Moni Hogg, is joined by special guest, Candis Hawkins, Operations Critical Risk Manager at Westland Milk Products.
Candis shares her journey into Safety II from being an enthusiastic Health & Safe Rep in Tasmania to becoming an influential Safety II advocate, conference speaker, and winner of the 2022 WISE HASANZ Women in Safety scholarship.
If you need some encouragement from someone who has come up through the ranks and knows what it's like to have to just "take a leap and do it", listen to Candis.
Women in Safety II
Plunket case study - Nicola Knobel
In the third session of our Women in Safety series Safety II specialist, Moni Hogg, is joined by special guest, Nicola Knobel.
Nicola unveils how Whānau Āwhina Plunket successfully implemented a Safety-II model, enriched by Te Ao Māori principles. This case study is a testament to the effectiveness of cultural inclusivity in safety management and showcases a shift from traditional safety models to one that focuses on positive outcomes and resilience.
Women in Safety II
Scion case study - Steph Weal
In this, the second session of our Women in Safety series Safety II specialist, Moni Hogg, is joined by Stephanie Weal, Health & Safety Manager at Scion.
Scion is a NZ research institute providing innovative science and technology for the forestry, wood products and biomaterials sector and Stephanie explains how she introduced Safety II into their work environment.
Governance opportunities for OHS professionals
Margaret van Schaik
If you are interested in developing into the field of governance but don't know what opportunities exist from an OHS background, then this webinar is one for you.
Margaret van Schaik (WISE network Chair) has a wealth of experience and in this webinar shares her own journey before leading kōrero about governance.
She discusses:
- the governance options available for OHS professionals,
- the skills required, and
- sharing a range of tips and information about how to prepare for these roles.
Women in Safety II
ASB case study - Deb Pitout
Welcome to the first in our "Women in Safety II" series, a bi-monthly online lunchtime session, a space for women to meet and share Safety Differently case studies and journeys, and for ideas to flourish. The series is facilitated by Moni Hogg, a nationally recognised Safety Differently Specialist. With eight years’ experience using the Safety II approach, Moni is passionate about enabling women to lead from the front as visible change agents.
This first session features Deb Pitout’s journey with Safety II, from her backstory as an Innovation Lead for WorkSafe, to her current role as Head of Safety for the progressive NZ owned bank, ASB.
Wellbeing and burnout for women
Dr Amanda Wallis & Bronwyn Moth
Women in the safety profession are often tasked with the responsibility of protecting and caring for others. But who looks after them when the pressure is on? The WISE network joined with Dr Amanda Wallis and clinical psychologist, Bronwyn Moth, from Umbrella Wellbeing to help women put the focus back on themselves.
This valuable webinar covers:
- what burnout is,
- what the warning signs are, and
- how to prevent it.
Developing Māori competency in OHS
Vance Walker
Vance Walker is a recognised expert in pragmatically connecting Māori culture with health and safety. His focus is to develop new Māori based practices that improve risk perception, communication, and use of controls by Māori and vulnerable workers.
In this webinar, Vance takes us through:
- A history of mātauranga and tikanga Māori and health and safety
- Building Māori competency by individual practitioners
Menstrual Cycles and Mental Health
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is something that most people who have periods will experience. Hormones are powerful, and when they’re fluctuating (as they do before your period) they can make us feel pretty physically and emotionally out of kilter. Sometimes, the symptoms of PMS can go beyond just discomfort, manifesting as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) - a severe form of PMS.
Unfortunately, PMS is common. From bloating and headaches to bad skin and sensitive moods, a whopping 90% of us will experience at least one PMS symptom before our period. If that wasn’t enough, before our period, hormones can also amplify things like anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions we may already be trying to manage. Thanks, hormones!
In this guide, Yoppie explores PMS, PMDD, uncovering the unique relationship between your period and your mental health to help you get on top of PMS for good! There are useful self-care tips and wellbeing advice - how the right diet, exercise, emotional and stress management practices help - it's well worth a read to help yourself and others too.
- Guide to Menstrual Cycles and Mental Health (yoppie.com)
Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand is a charity that works towards creating a society free from discrimination, where all people enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing through 'The Five Ways to Wellbeing'.
The Five Ways to Wellbeing at Work Toolkit is a stepped guide to improving mental wellness in your workplace. It includes fact sheets, tips, tools and templates to make it easy for you to support your teams in building the Five Ways into their daily lives.
The Toolkit can be downloaded as one document or in sections:
Other Mental Health Resources
- A Mental Health Guide for NZ Leaders (by NZ Government Health & Safety Lead)
- NZ Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience website
- Wellbeing for Health (specific to the health sector)
- Downloadable resources by Umbrella (clinical psychologists sharing their wellbeing expertise)
- Email and your mental health (Tom Read blog)