THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams ACTION (Pilot) Program

In response to our 2024 stakeholder feedback, AVA is delighted to introduce the THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams ACTION Pilot Program. This initiative is a practical workplace wellbeing program to support veterinary change champions implement a successful psychosocial hazard management system.  The program includes an online, live and interactive short course, a facilitated psychosocial hazards assessment in the workplace and one on one coaching from organisational psychologists from the OPUS Centre, for participants to address issues specific to their workplaces.

CST ACTION builds on the AWARE program delivering 6 months of support, 6 monthly webinars, 12 e-learning modules, online tools and resource links to help change champions in the veterinary industry make work a  SAFE  place to be, as well as a  GREAT place to be.     

 The goals of the program are to: 

• Create a shared language of psychosocial health and safety as well as wellbeing, to help champions understand the complexities, challenges and opportunities for improving wellbeing across veterinary workplaces.  
• Build the knowledge of principles and practices that contribute to psychosocial health, safety and wellbeing.  
• Deliver education around evaluation and measurement tools to support project planning decisions and effective investment.  
• Develop skills and confidence to design and implement both a psychosocial risk assessment and a workplace improvement project.  
• Provide access to evidence-based wellbeing tools and resources.  

Additional support 

• Each webinar will be supported by short psychosocial hazard videos and e-learning modules. 
• One-on-one coaching will be available to participants and promoted throughout the webinars. 
• The curriculum will be communicated clearly to participants, with opportunities for feedback and co-design in later sessions. 
• A community of practice with your veterinary peers to learn what works, ask questions and support each other.
  
  

The Australian Veterinary Association is proud to champion this on behalf of the veterinary industry. We would like to acknowledge the passion and commitment of all stakeholders who have been involved in this journey. Thank you for sharing your unique voice, and for your pledge to veterinary wellbeing. 

Running from February to July 2026, the pilot program will be offered at the reduced price of $720 per person for 15 workplace champions.

Webinar 1: Psychosocial Safety Fundamentals

This webinar will build on participant’s existing knowledge of psychosocial risk and positive psychology. You’ll also be introduced to the program itself and what you can expect for the coming months.

Objectives:
Overview of the CST Action program and its evolution from CST Awareness modules including the program’s purpose, timeline, objectives and expectations.

• Psychosocial risk overview including recent updates to hazards.
• Introduce the psychosocial risk assessment process and the PRC survey, encouraging participants to complete the survey before the third webinar.

CoP Activities:

• Program overview Q&A.
• Participant introductions and expectations.
• Launch of the PRC survey for psychosocial risk assessment.

Webinar 2: Lead Indicators & Risk Assessments 

The webinar offers a practical introduction to psychosocial risk assessments. You’ll explore the importance of lead indicators, learn how to interpret and apply the provided psychosocial risk tool and gain actionable strategies for embedding psychosocial risk management into ongoing work practices.  

Objectives: 

• Psychosocial safety and the importance of lead indicators
• Risk assessment methodologies and how to interpret PRC survey results. 
• Identifying psychosocial hazards within teams and organisations. 
  
• Integration of risk assessments into ongoing workplace practices. 
  

CoP Activities: 

• Promote the completion of the PRC survey and preparation for action planning. 
  

• Participants to select methods for consultation, risk identification and assessment. 
  

• Group discussion on survey findings and next steps. 

Webinar 3: Designing Interventions 

This webinar will examine the broader results and guide you in designing evidence-based interventions to address the identified psychosocial hazards. You’ll gain practical strategies for improving employee wellbeing and embedding these approaches into sustainable workplace practices.  

Objectives: 

• Practical strategies for designing interventions to address identified psychosocial hazards. 

• Evidence based approaches and positive psychology concepts for workplace wellbeing. 

• Methods for process evaluation and the importance of ongoing feedback and improvement. 
  

CoP Activities: 

• Encourage participants to begin developing action plans based on risk assessment data. 

• Sharing best practices and lessons learned. 

• Consultation with participants to co-design topics for next three webinars. 
  
  

Webinars 4-6 will be developed in consultation with participants – this is your unique opportunity to shape the future of the cultivating safe teams program! 

If you are a veterinary professional (vet, nurse/tech or support staff) who is working in clinical practice, in industry, an academic setting, or any other veterinary specific working environment, we encourage you to apply. To ensure you get the most out of the experience you must have: 

• Attended a CST Aware or CST pilot session. 

• Leadership support to implement your learnings in your workplace, including facilitating an anonymous survey of your team and implementing a hazard minimization project. 

Participants will be enrolled in the e-learning program to complete at their own pace.  

6 live webinars will be held across the program – these will be recorded but to make the most of the peer-to-peer learning we strongly recommend participants attend live. Webinars will be 60-90mins duration. 

All webinars will be held from 7pm-8.30pm AEST however recordings will be available and the e-modules can be done at any time.

All participants will be asked to complete ongoing surveys, participate in at least two online feedback sessions and be available for interviews during and after the conclusion of the pilot program.  

Important: We are delivering a pilot program to a very strict deadline.  
Once training dates are set these cannot be altered. Your understanding is appreciated.    

We wish to acknowledge and deeply thank our partners for their ongoing commitment and support of this THRIVE initiative.  

Generously funded by the Zoetis Foundation

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