- Mining leaders gather at Optus Stadium today to drive action on workplace culture and psychosocial safety
- Summit brings together industry, government and experts to embed respectful, safe and inclusive workplaces across WA's mining sector
- Cook Labor Government reinforces expectation that systems and standards are applied consistently at all sites and across the workforce
Leaders from Western Australia's mining sector have come together today (4 June) at the Mining Industry Summit 2026: Building Respect to drive action on workplace culture, safety and respect.
Senior personnel from the sector, including board members, executives, operational leaders and frontline representatives, are working to strengthen workplace standards and drive change.
Building on the inaugural 2023 Summit, this year's event shifts the focus from awareness to action, with an emphasis on embedding consistent behaviours and practices.
The Summit brings together industry, government, unions and experts to address psychosocial risks, including mental health, sexual harassment and workplace behaviour.
The program features keynote insights from Kate Jenkins AO and Curtin University Professor Sharon Parker, alongside immersive sessions by Acting Consulting Training Australia and industry panel discussions focused on practical solutions.
Panel sessions are structured across three key streams - culture, implementation and future - and are:
- Building respect: From intention to sustained cultural change;
- Contractors and culture: Closing the divide;
- From compliance to culture: Building psychosocial safety in mining;
- Breaking the cycle: Practical solutions to violence and harassment in mining;
- Beyond diversity: Respect and inclusion in tomorrow's mining workplaces; and
- Emerging issues: Technology, automation and new psychosocial risks.
The Summit is delivered through the Cook Labor Government's Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety Program, supporting industry to strengthen systems and improve workplace safety and wellbeing.
The 2026-27 State Budget committed an additional $10million to this program over the next two years to continue this essential work.
The focus is on translating evidence and leadership commitment into action, ensuring systems are applied consistently and workplaces remain safe, respectful and inclusive.
As stated by Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk:
"Western Australia's mining industry is a global leader, and with that comes a responsibility to ensure every worker is safe, respected and supported.
"Safe and respectful workplaces are a moral imperative and a business necessity, and today's Summit is about equipping leaders with the tools and insights to turn commitment into action.
"We have made strong progress, but the expectation now is that this work is embedded consistently across every site, every team and every part of the workforce.
"Psychosocial safety is not a set and forget. It requires continued focus, leadership and accountability to ensure standards are applied in practice."
