TWO Coffs Coast leaders, General Manager Lifeline North Coast Angela Martin, and Chief Executive Health Voyage Tazmyn Jewell, were among seven national finalists in the Outstanding Leadership category of the recently-held Psychosocial Safety and Leadership Awards.
The awards celebrate leaders who take bold, thoughtful steps to reduce risks, improve inclusivity, and champion mental health as the foundation of workplaces where people feel respected, supported and able to thrive.
Ms Martin and Ms Jewell were recognised for their exceptional contributions to psychosocial wellbeing in regional communities.
Ms Martin has been a long-standing advocate for workplace wellbeing, leading efforts to embed psychosocial safety into organisational culture across the region, creating a workplace where people feel safe, respected, and valued for their contributions.
“Kindness and team support are the foundations, but it’s equally important to have strong guidelines around code of conduct, communication, and grievance processes so everyone understands their rights and responsibilities,” she told News Of The Area.
“In the mental health sector especially, we must lead by example – modelling respect, open communication, and compassion.
“When employees’ psychosocial health and wellbeing are genuinely supported, we not only retain great people but also create a culture where happy, engaged staff walk through the doors each day, ready to do meaningful work together.
“That’s what a productive, thriving workplace looks like in practice.”
Ms Jewell is known for her values-based leadership, positive workplace culture and her deep commitment to women’s health and youth mental health across the region.
“A thriving, bold, kind workplace is one where psychosocial safety, compassion, and values-led leadership are embedded into everyday practice, empowering people to flourish both professionally and personally,” she said.
“At Health Voyage, this philosophy is lived through strengths-based leadership, neuroaffirming environments and intentional rituals that foster connection, gratitude and resilience.
“We put our people first through governance that prioritises wellbeing, including our groundbreaking Women’s Health Policy that offers additional paid leave, and flexible workplace supports for staff experiencing menstruation, menopause, fertility care, endometriosis and other health needs – normalising these experiences and embedding dignity, equity and compassion into everyday operations.”
The awards ceremony was held at the Murrook Cultural Centre on Worimi Country on Friday, 12 September.
The winners were Lainie Cassidy, Director of Inclusion, Wellbeing and Safety at KPMG, and Jeremy Brett, General Manager at Morgan Engineering.
By Andrea FERRARI
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