About the MARS Program
The State Government announced the establishment of the MARS Program on 11 December 2021 and allocated $8.4 million to address serious mental health, workplace culture and safety issues in the mining industry.
The MARS program is an inter-agency collaboration involving the Department of Energy Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS), the Mental Health Commission, the Equal Opportunity Commission and the Department of Communities.
Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston announced Edith Cowan University as the successful applicant for a new mining sector initiative, the Professorial Chair in Mining Work Health and Safety on 26 June 2023.
Funded as part of the Cook Government's ongoing commitment to the Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) program, the Professorial Chair will bring tertiary institutions, government, and industry together to develop undergraduate and postgraduate education for future mining industry workers.
The Cook Government is providing $1 million per annum for three years, with ECU matching that amount. Total support, including in-kind and from industry, is expected to be nearly $11 million across the three years.
Mental Awareness, Respect & Safety (MARS) Centre
On November 1, 2023, the Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Centre was officially launched at Edith Cowan University’s City Hub.
The MARS Centre is an ECU industry collaboration centre for the mining sector that helps improve safety and wellbeing through research and education whilst working with industry to:
- Create mentally healthy workplaces
- Build a culture of safety and respect
- Prepare for workplace safety in future mining
The MARS Centre which is based at ECU’s School of Business and Law works in collaboration with the School of Medical and Health Sciences and is funded through a grant from the WA Government’s MARS Program, along with funding from industry partners and ECU’s research fund.
The Professorial Chair in Mining Work Health and Safety will bring tertiary institutions, government, and industry together to develop undergraduate and postgraduate education for future mining industry workers.
The MARS program will also work to address the complex Work, Health and Safety (WHS) challenges within the mining sector, the MARS Centre has the following key functions:
- Collaborate with the sector to lead and translate innovative, cutting-edge research that aims to create mentally healthy mining workplaces, build a culture of safety and respect, and prepare the sector for workplace safety in the future.
- Build sector-wide capability, with a focus on upskilling current mining managers and professionals by developing and delivering mining WHS curriculum initiatives that are accessible, practical, educational and engaging.
- Engage stakeholders within WA’s mining industry, providing support and new evidence to guide better practice in the management of WHS, as well as respect and inclusion at work.
The MARS Centre will play a key role in addressing serious mental health, workplace culture and safety issues in the Western Australian mining industry.
L-R Richard Sellers, Director General, DEMIRS, Robyn Parker A/Exec Director, Regulatory Support, DEMIRS, Sheree Colley, DEMIRS, Claire Good, MHC, Hon Bill Johnston MLA, Minister for Mines, Tim Bentley, Professorial Chair MARS Centre, Sally North, Acting WorkSafe Commissioner, WorkSafe WA, Bec Naylor, General Manager Information and Stakeholder Engagement, Regulatory Support Division ,DEMIRS. Ivor Roberts, Acting Deputy WorkSafe Commissioner, WorkSafe WA and Estie McGuiness, Administration and Project Officer, Regulatory Support Division, DEMIRS at the opening of the new MARS Centre.
Further information about the WA Government's reports into sexual harassment in the Mining industry are available here:
The Respect@Work Report, the Parliamentary Inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry, the introduction of the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, and the Productivity Commission’s Mental Health Inquiry Report have all focused attention on issues regarding workplace health, safety and wellbeing.
