Design for Care Showcase: A Journey to SMARTer Workplaces in the H&SA Industry

Poor work design is a key contributor to psychological injury in the Healthcare and Social Assistance (H&SA) industry. Poor psychological health, such as burnout, stress, and anxiety not only harms employees’ well-being but also reduces organisations’ ability to function effectively. Improving work design is key to mitigating these risks and ensuring a healthier, more sustainable workforce.

How can we design work to better support mental health and well-being in the H&SA industry? Join us as we share and showcase our journey to SMARTer workplaces. This Design for Care Showcase brings together researchers, industry professionals, and organisational leaders to share our key findings, preview new resources and take away actionable strategies to improve work design and employee well-being.

Event highlights

• Hear from John Curtin Distinguished Professor Sharon Parker (Centre for Transformative Work Design, Curtin University), as she presents our cumulative research findings from the PARRTH to SMART Work Design pilots and offers an overview of the project’s key outcomes.
• Engage with PARRTH organisation representatives and H&SA professionals to exchange knowledge and real-world experiences on work redesign.
• Join experiential sessions tailored to different stages of the work redesign journey. Select two sessions during registration that best align with how familiar you are with work design:
  • How to start your work design journey: Ideal for first-time attendees with limited experience in work redesign, this session will kickstart your journey, guiding you through the SMART Work Design Model and showing how it can transform work environments to better support mental health.
  • Preview and explore the Design for Care Platform: Discover the key features of this tool, designed to support the implementation of SMART work design in the H&SA industry. Participate in a mock simulation of using the tool. Get hands-on with the platform to see how it can assist in creating a SMARTer, more supportive work environment.
  • How to create work design change in your organisation: Dive into our comprehensive new training materials and organisational change guide designed for the H&SA industry. Engage in thought-provoking discussions on how these resources can be used to navigate and implement change.

Event details

• Cost: Complimentary for H&SA employees (includes morning tea and lunch). Supported by icare NSW.
• Registration: Please register via Humanitix by 29th April. Early registration is recommended as places are limited.
• Who should attend: Leaders and People & Culture professionals in the H&SA industry working in the area of workplace well-being, mental health, workers compensation and psychosocial risk.

About the Speaker: John Curtin Distinguished Professor Sharon Parker

Professor Sharon K. Parker is the world’s leading expert on work design. She is the founder of the SMART work design model and co-founder of the Thrive at Work Initiative, and Director of the Centre for Transformative Work Design, which she established. She is a John Curtin Distinguished Professor at Curtin University, a Fellow of the Academy of Management, the Australian Academy of Social Sciences, and the Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology.

She is a recipient of several recognitions and awards including the ARC’s Kathleen Fitzpatrick Laureate Fellowship Award, the Academy of Management OB Division Mentoring Award, and a joint winner of the Scientist of the Year award at the 2024 Western Australian Premier's Science Awards.

About the Design for Care Project

Design for Care is a research project funded by icare NSW with the goal of developing and evaluating how work can be redesigned to promote mentally healthy workplaces in the healthcare and social assistance (H&SA) industry. The project is led by Professor Sharon Parker at Curtin University’s Centre for Transformative Work Design, with Professor Anya Johnson & Professor Helena Nguyen at the University of Sydney, and Professor Alex Collie at Monash University.