At the 2026 Hunter Safety Awards, Coal LSL was recognised with the Best Health & Wellbeing Program (Large) Award for its proactive and deeply embedded approach to psychological safety. In an era where psychosocial health is becoming an increasingly critical part of workplace health and safety, Coal LSL has demonstrated what it truly looks like to move beyond awareness and into prevention. Their program stood out for embedding psychosocial risk management into leadership, syst

At the 2026 Hunter Safety Awards, the University of Newcastle was recognised with the Best WHS Training Program Award for its innovative and evidence-based approach to psychosocial safety through leadership development. In a workplace landscape where psychosocial hazards are increasingly front of mind, the University of Newcastle has set itself apart by redefining what effective WHS training can look like — positioning leadership behaviour itself as a critical control. Their

At the 2026 Hunter Safety Awards, Mohamed Seweify was recognised as the WHS Rising Star Award winner, celebrating an emerging professional whose rapid progression, people-first leadership, and commitment to safety is already making a significant impact. Since entering the safety profession in 2023, Mohamed has quickly established himself as a standout talent — progressing into an HSEQ Advisor role and supporting high-risk rail projects across both the Hunter and Sydney. In a

At the 2026 Hunter Safety Awards, Russel Driver was recognised as the Young WHS Leader of the Year, celebrating a leader whose proactive, practical, and people-focused approach is helping shape the future of workplace health and safety. As National QSE Manager, Russel is leading safety across multiple regions, including the Hunter, with a strong focus on proactive risk management, culture, and measurable safety outcomes. His recognition reflects not only what he has achieved

At the 2026 Hunter Safety Awards, Rebecca Lehmann was recognised with the prestigious WHS Champion of the Year Award, celebrating an individual whose leadership, passion, and commitment to workplace health and safety has created extraordinary impact well beyond her immediate role. Rebecca’s recognition comes after achieving an incredible milestone — the first-ever 100% WHS audit score across 67 clubs in PCYC NSW. This achievement alone is remarkable, but what truly set Rebecc

Port of Newcastle Named WHS Business of the Year at the 2026 Hunter Safety Awards

Let’s talk about one of the biggest myths we hear every year: “I’d love to enter the awards… but I just don’t have time.” Sound familiar? We get it. The idea of putting together a submission can feel overwhelming. But the truth is, if you’ve done the work, entering doesn’t have to take much time at all. Here’s how most nominees complete their entry in your lunch break: Step 1: Choose the right categoryStart with the one that best matches the work you’ve already done. Not sure

The inbox is overflowing. Your calendar is filling up. And suddenly, the quiet of January is already behind you. Before it disappears completely, take a moment to pause and think: What WHS achievement are you proud of from 2025? Because that is exactly the story we want to hear. Nominations are open for the 2026 Hunter Safety Awards This year marks our 10-Year Anniversary — and we’re celebrating the individuals, businesses, and ideas that have shaped the future of workplace h

WHS culture doesn’t live in a policy.It lives in the people who show up every day and make it real. As we wrap up 2025 and prepare for the 10-Year Anniversary of the Hunter Safety Awards , we want to spotlight the change-makers, the individuals and teams who are shaping safety culture across the Hunter. It’s the team member who championed mental health conversations.The new leader who shifted how people talk about risk.The WHS pro who made reporting feel safe and stigma-free

As we close out 2025, many of us are finally exhaling.It ’s been a big year — full of changes, challenges, wins (some small, some massive), and plenty of “we’ll figure it out” moments when it comes to keeping our people safe, healthy, and well. And through it all, you’ve kept showing up for safety. That matters. At the Hunter Safety Awards , we’re getting ready to celebrate 10 years of recognising WHS excellence in the Hunter. That’s a whole decade of stories, from small busi

As we reach the end of 2025, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and acknowledge the incredible work happening across the Hunter in workplace health and safety. This year, we’ve seen WHS evolve from compliance-based systems into people-first frameworks that prioritise culture, mental health, and continuous improvement. We’ve heard stories of frontline workers stepping into leadership, students introducing new thinking, and businesses big and small embedding WHS into thei