Psychosocial hazards are aspects of work, such as how it is designed, managed, or carried out, and how people interact, that can cause psychological harm, whether or not they also cause physical harm. They sit alongside physical hazards (like manual handling) as something employers have a legal duty to identify and manage.

Common examples include high or low job demands, low job control, poor support, lack of role clarity, poor workplace relationships, bullying, harassment, exposure to traumatic events, poor change management, and unreasonable time or performance pressure.

Whether you are in NSW, Victoria, or elsewhere in Australia, the direction is the same, psychosocial risk is no longer optional to manage. It is a legislated duty, with a clear expectation that businesses identify hazards before they cause harm, not just respond after the fact.

Psychosocial risk is the likelihood and severity of harm that could result from exposure to a psychosocial hazard. In simple terms: the hazard is the source (e.g. poor role clarity, high job demands, bullying), and the risk is the chance that this hazard will actually cause someone psychological or physical harm, and how serious that harm could be.

Risk levels depend on things like how often a worker is exposed to a hazard, how long the exposure lasts, how severe it could be, and whether multiple hazards are combining or compounding each other. A single stressful week is different to sustained, unmanaged pressure over months. The hazard might be the same, but the risk is not. This is why simply naming a hazard isn't enough. Under work health and safety law in both NSW and Victoria, employers have a duty to assess the risk associated with psychosocial hazards, and to implement control measures to eliminate or minimise that risk, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Frame works with businesses of any size and is designed to act as your HR specialist solution to identifying and managing psychosocial hazards.

If this is a gap you are experiencing, Frame gives you access to senior people and culture expertise without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.

Frame can support your business in a number of ways, including:

• Ongoing support as you need it.

• Project work - a focused, time-bound engagement for a specific challenge.

• ad hoc support - flexible help as issues arise.

Each of Frame’s services is mapped to specific psychosocial hazards, so you can see at a glance which offering addresses your situation. If you are not sure, get in touch and we will talk through what is going on before recommending a way forward.

Yes. Leaders are often the first line of defence when it comes to psychosocial risk as they are best placed to notice early warning signs, respond appropriately, and model a psychologically safe culture.

We offer training for managers and leaders on topics such as recognising psychosocial hazards and completing risk assessments, having difficult conversations, managing performance and conduct issues, supporting a team member through change, etc.

Training can be delivered as a standalone session or as part of a broader risk management program. it is tailored to your team's size, industry, and the specific risks relevant to your workplace.

Frame is based in Albury and works on both sides of the NSW and Victorian border.

Workplace consulting, risk assessments, and training can be delivered on-site, remotely or a combination, depending on your needs.

Personal coaching sessions are typically held in person, however can be conducted on-line or a mix of both.

Get in touch and we can talk through what will work best for your situation.

I bring over 30 years of human resources experience, including 15+ years’ operating at senior executive levels. I hold qualifications in human resources and psychology and accredited in emotional intelligence (EQ-i 2.0), NLP and resilience based coaching methodologies. I combine all these experiences and tools to create and deliver bespoke programs for individuals and teams.

NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) is a set of practical tools and techniques that explore the connection between how we think, communicate, and behave. It is often used in coaching to help people identify unhelpful thought patterns, reframe limiting beliefs, and build more effective ways of communicating and responding to challenges. In a coaching context, we may draw on NLP techniques where they are useful, alongside other evidence-based approaches, to support you in working through whatever you have brought to the session, whether it is a specific challenge, a habit you want to shift, or a broader sense of direction.

Coaching and counselling both support wellbeing, but they serve different purposes. Counselling is typically focused on treating mental health conditions, often looking back at past experiences to understand and process them. It is provided by registered psychologists, psychiatrists, or counsellors, and is appropriate when someone is managing a mental health condition or needs clinical support.

Coaching is future-focused. It is designed for people who are generally functioning well but want support navigating change, conflict, transition, or personal growth, clarifying goals, building confidence, working through a specific challenge, or developing new ways of thinking and responding. It is a collaborative, forward-moving process rather than a clinical one.

If at any point it becomes clear that counselling or clinical support would be more appropriate for what you are working through, we will always be upfront about that and can help point you in the right direction.

Costs depend on the scope of work, whether it is a single coaching session, an organisation-wide psychosocial risk assessment, or ongoing HR support. Because every business and individual's needs are different, we do not publish a fixed price list, but we are happy to talk through your situation and provide a clear quote or fee structure before you commit to anything.

Get in touch for an initial conversation. There is no obligation, and we will work together to discover what kind of support is suited to your needs.