Workplace Profiles

2021 Thriving Workplace Score

Rank

#17

of 19

Mining

64.5/100

-0.4

64.5

-0.4

0
100

The Mining industry includes coal and metal ore mining, oil and gas extraction, petroleum exploration, sand quarrying and mineral exploration.

Graph – Thriving Score for the Mining Industry over time

Industry Thriving Score: Progress over Time

The Mining industry has seen an overall decrease in workplace mental health and wellbeing, as well as decreases across four of the five thriving domains compared to last years results. The industry is below the national average overall.

Despite the drops in many areas, it was positive to see a slight increase in the leadership domain, particularly as leadership reduced in many industries. The biggest area of opportunity for workplaces in the industry is in the culture domain.

This graph depicts the Thriving Score for the Mining Industry over time

Graph – Thriving Score for the Mining industry over time

What can you do?

Culture can sometimes seem like the trickiest and most daunting area to tackle. A great way to start is by promoting mental health awareness initiatives, open and honest conversations about mental health and wellbeing, and creating top down organisational change through visible mental health policies. These activities will also lead to improvements across the capability, connectedness and policy domains.

The important thing to remember is that these changes start with leadership. Optimistically, the mining industry has experienced a growth in the leadership domain. Capitalising on this momentum is a great way to ensure workers and workplaces in the mining industry achieve their potential to thrive. Leaders who trust and are trusted by their staff are in an excellent position to create an inclusive and thriving culture by actively listening to the diversity of thought and experiences of their people, providing open support to their team, and influencing policy change to meet the needs of their workers.

Read the Art of Leadership blog
Learn how leaders can support positive cultures

Within this industry…

45.6%

of workers have experienced a mental health condition* in the last 12 months
*Refer to Technical report notes

53.0%

of workers feel their workplace is highly supportive of workers’ mental health and wellbeing

65.8%

of workers plan to stay with their workplace for the next 12 months

Psychosocial Risk Profile

Psychosocial risks are workplace operations that increase stress and reduce mental wellbeing.
Read more

Inappropriate workload

2.6

Low recognition

2.4

Poor change management

2.6

Poor management support

2.4

Low job control

2.3

Poor role clarity

2.3

Poor workplace relationships

2.2

Poor working environment

2.2

Traumatic events

2.0

Key:

Table – Psychosocial Risk Profile for Mining industry

Highest Psychosocial Risk

The highest psychosocial risks facing the Mining industry are inappropriate workload and poor change management.

How can you manage this risk?

Implementing good job design practices is important to reduce the risks related to inappropriate workload. You can do this by:

  • Ensuring staff have adequate breaks during and between shifts
  • Avoiding extended periods of long or irregular working hours
  • Regularly reviewing workloads of individual workers
    Rotating tasks that are mentally, physically, or emotionally demanding when possible.

Change is a constant part of our lives and it can be even harder for workers during times of uncertainty such as throughout the pandemic when changes are occurring rapidly. You can support workers during change by:

  • Making sure you’re communicating any changes clearly
  • Checking-in with workers often to see if they understand the change or need any support
  • Ensure workers have the tools and training to implement new processes
  • Ask workers for input on how they would like to roll out any new processes.

Learn more

Check out the “Mates In Mining” website.

Mates In Mining

See also the Minerals Council of Australia’s ‘Blueprint for Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Mining industry’.

Minerals Council of Australia: Blueprint for Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Mining industry