Reflections from the WHS Expo: Are We Missing the Mark on Agricultural Safety?
Last week I attended the WHS Expo in Melbourne—and walked away with more questions than answers.
What struck me immediately was how underrepresented the agriculture sector was.
In an industry becoming more regulated by the day, and where workplace health and safety is literally life and death, it was surprising to see so few services tailored to the realities of farming life.
One of the biggest topics on the agenda? Psychosocial safety.
Terms like “work imagined vs. work done” were everywhere—highlighting the disconnect between what leaders think is happening on the ground and what’s actually going on.
And it got me thinking:
We all imagine we’ve set up the right systems, processes, and expectations.
But how often do we check that those systems are actually working for our people?
The New Regulations—and a Bigger Responsibility
From 1 December, Victoria will introduce new OHS regulations requiring businesses to identify and manage psychosocial hazards in the workplace—just like any physical risk.
But it’s not just about compliance. It’s about leadership.
Creating an environment where people feel safe, supported, and able to do their best work isn’t optional anymore—it’s part of running a responsible business.
And the truth is, our people can’t feel safe if we don’t understand how they’re really experiencing the work.
What inspired me most? The Blue Shirt Project.
One of the highlights of the expo was meeting Alan Graham from The Blue Shirt Project.
They’re a grassroots startup focused on improving mental wellbeing through early intervention, meaningful training, and practical community support.
They’re not just talking about change—they’re out there making it.
At Ingham & Co, we’re looking forward to staying connected with Alan and his team and supporting their growth however we can.
So, what’s next?
Here’s one simple thing I’d encourage anyone to do this week:
🛠 Walk the farm. Talk to your team.
Ask:
• What’s working well?
• What’s not?
• What do we need to be doing more of?
Then listen—really listen.
Because systems give us structure, but it’s our follow-through that builds trust.
We might explore what psychosocial hazards actually are in a future post. Because terms like these don’t mean much unless we take the time to unpack the meaning behind them—and what they look like in practice.
Let’s keep the conversation going.