Purpose
At Settlement Services International Limited and its subsidiary entities (SSI Group), we are deeply committed to fostering a healthy, safe, and inclusive workplace for all. We believe that safety is not just a legal obligation — it’s a shared value that underpins everything we do.
We are committed to protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of our workers and all persons who may be affected by our activities.
We are committed to providing, as far as reasonably practicable, safe work environments and systems for all workers, clients, visitors, and volunteers engaged in SSI Group activities.
Our proactive approach aims not only to prevent injuries and illnesses but also to promote wellbeing, adaptability and a positive safety culture across all areas of our organisation.
Scope
This policy applies to all persons engaged with SSI Group, including Board members, employees, volunteers, students, contractors, consultants, and members.
Everyone within this scope shares responsibility for maintaining a safe environment and complying with the principles outlined in this policy.
Principles
The SSI Group adopts a risk management approach, including:
Strong Safety Leadership
Leading by example at all levels of the organisation, with visible and genuine commitment to building a safe, supportive and accountable environment for all.
Principles-Based Culture
Embedding safety, respect, and care into our workplace culture, ensuring all actions and decisions align with our core values.
Wellbeing Focused
Taking a holistic view of safety that includes physical, psychological, and emotional wellbeing, recognising that wellbeing is fundamental to both individual and organisational success.
Creating Safe Environments
Providing and maintaining work environments that are safe and without risks to health, through proactive design, continuous improvement and inclusive consultation.
Integrated Risk Approach
Applying a comprehensive approach to risk management that identifies, assesses, and controls risks across all areas of operation, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and resilience.
Compliance and Continuous Improvement
Meeting all applicable WHS legislation and codes of practice, while striving for continuous improvement through investigation, feedback and innovation.
Trauma-Informed Practices
Adopting a trauma-informed approach in our interactions, processes, and systems to promote safety, trust, empowerment and wellbeing for all people engaging with SSI Group.
Supporting Recovery and Return to Work
Provide early intervention, injury management and recovery support that assists workers to recover safely while maintaining dignity, respect and meaningful connection with work.
Worker Consultation and Engagement
Actively engaging workers and volunteers in identifying hazards, making informed decisions about health and safety matters and promoting a sense of ownership over their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others, recognising that effective consultation leads to improved safety outcomes.
Education and Empowerment
Providing workers and volunteers with the knowledge, training, tools, and support they need to confidently and safely carry out their roles.
Psychosocial Risk Management
Proactively identify, assess and control psychosocial hazards arising from work design, organisational systems, interpersonal relationships and the work environment, acknowledging that psychological health is equally as important as physical health.
Definitions
SSI Group
Refers to Settlement Services International Limited and its subsidiary entities.
Workplace
Any place where work is carried out for SSI Group and includes any place where a worker goes, or is likely to be, while at work (e.g., offices, client premises, vehicles, events).
Work Health and Safety
The physical and mental wellbeing of individuals at work, including protection from injury, illness, and harm.
WHS Risk
The possibility that harm (injury, illness, or damage) might occur when exposed to a hazard.
Reasonably Practicable
What could reasonably be done to ensure health and safety of staff and others in the workplace, considering factors such as the likelihood of a risk occurring, the degree of harm that might result, and what the person concerned knows or ought reasonably to know about the hazard or risk.
Consultation
A process of involving workers and others in the workplace in health and safety decision-making by sharing information, giving workers the opportunity to express views, and considering those views before making decisions
Contractor
As defined by Fair Work, it means a PCBU or person engaged to complete a specific work task or service under agreement with SSI Group who is not an employee or consultant and generally uses their own equipment and tools to complete the work e.g. tradespeople engaged for a specific task such as a plumber to fix leaking pipes.
Subsidiaries
A subsidiary is partly or completely owned by the parent company, which holds a controlling interest in the subsidiary company.
Person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
A PCBU is defined as a legal entity (such as a company, sole trader, partnership, or government department) that conducts a business or undertaking, either alone or with others, whether or not for profit or gain.
Officer
An officer is defined in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 and includes individuals who make or participate in making decisions that affect the whole or a substantial part of the business, such as company directors, CEOs, and other senior executives.
Due Diligence
Due diligence includes taking reasonable steps to:
1. Acquire and keep up-to-date knowledge of WHS matters;
2. Understand the nature of the business operations and associated risks;
3. Ensure the PCBU has and uses appropriate resources and processes to eliminate or minimise health and safety risks;
4. Ensure appropriate processes are in place for receiving and responding to WHS information, incidents, and hazards;
5. Verify the implementation and effectiveness of those WHS processes.
Responsibilities
WHS Officers (including Board members, CEO and identified executive and other leaders) will:
- Officer under the Work Health and Safety Legislation must exercise due diligence to ensure SSI Group complies with its WHS duties to protect workers and other persons against harm to health and safety
- Provide health and safety leadership to all workers
- Support and monitor SSI Group’s Work Health and Safety Management System and ensure safe working conditions for all workers as far as reasonably practicable
- Set health and safety objectives and targets for SSI Group.
Managers, Line Managers and Team Leaders will:
- Ensure work activities within their area of responsibility are conducted in accordance with WHS legislation and SSI Group policies and procedures Implement and maintain SSI Group’s Work Health and Safety Management System within their area of responsibility
- Provide and maintain, as far as reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to the physical and psychological health and safety of workers
- Allow time for workers to participate in their roles and duties in the delivery of health, safety and wellbeing at SSI Group
- Consult with and involve workers on matters relating to health, safety and wellbeing
- Provide suitable injury management and return to work for injured workers.
Employees, contractors, students and volunteers will:
- Take reasonable care for their own personal health and safety and the safety of those who may be affected by their actions or omissions.
- Report any potential risk and reputational concern that has the potential to harm the individual, team and organisation to their Manager or People & Culture team.
- Follow and co-operate with applicable SSI Group’s health and safety policies, procedures and reasonable direction given by management
- Participate in safety training, consultation and initiatives.
- Report health and safety hazards, near miss, incidents or injuries within 24 hours.
- Use equipment provided for work in a safe manner and as instructed
- If a worker is operating from different locations (e.g. Migrant Resource Centre, School, Community Centre), they should also comply with the health and safety policies and procedures that directly affect them within their scope of work.
Issue Date: August 2026