Rachael Potter

Teaching Strengths

Online course development

Dr Rachael Potter

Research Fellow

School of Psychology

College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences

Available For Media Comment.


I am a research leader within the Psychosocial Safety Climate Global Observatory (PSC-GO), which is funded by an ARC Laureate Fellowship and strives to build evidence and improve organisational psychosocial health and safety. While still contributing towards PSC-GO’s organisational focus, my work expands the scope to encompass the national work health and safety (WHS) policy and regulatory environment for psychological health and safety. My research informs a systems-level understanding of how legislation, enforcement, and institutional structures influence organisational practices, helping to strengthen the practical impact of policy for more meaningful change. My research has contributed to global discussions on best-practice regulatory design, been referenced in international (e.g., International Labour Organisation [ILO]) policy documents, as well in Australian Senate inquiries. I have developed world-first policy evaluation tools and methods (i.e., National Policy Index for Worker Mental Health) that inform both international and national regulatory bodies. I also provide formal advice through my roles on advisory groups and committees and regularly contribute expert input to public and professional audiences through invited talks to share my research in accessible and applied ways. My work is grounded in a strong commitment to social justice and equity—particularly focusing on improving conditions for women in the workforce. My vision is to strengthen global and national policy implementation efforts to improve organisational psychosocial risk management and worker health outcomes.

Year Citation
2025 Brakenridge, C. L., Silverwood, A., Potter, R. E., Oakman, J., Hadgraft, N., Goode, A. D., . . . Healy, G. N. (2025). Barriers, facilitators and acceptability of health promotion initiatives and behaviours in contact centre workers: A systematic review. Safety Science, 191(106945), 1-15.
DOI
2025 Potter, R., Crispin, C., Dollard, M. F., Aitchison, C., & Andrew, J. (2025). Women doctoral students and value creation through interdisciplinarity: a focus on the mechanisms. Innovative Higher Education, online(5), 1-31.
DOI
2025 Dollard, M. F., & Potter, R. (2025). Managing psychosocial risks at work through national policy and regulation. Occupational Health Science, online.
DOI
2025 Potter, R., Afsharian, A., Richter, S., Neser, D., Zadow, A., Dollard, M. F., & Lushington, K. (2025). Longitudinal investigation of restructuring, psychosocial safety climate and burnout in Australian universities during COVID-19 2020–2022. Journal of Industrial Relations, 67(2), 224-248.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3
2025 Charzynska, E., Buzniak, A., Czerwinski, S. K., Woropay hordziejewicz, N., Potter, R., & Atroszko, P. A. (2025). The International Work Addiction Scale (IWAS): a screening tool for clinical and organizational applications validated in 85 cultures from six continents. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 14(1), 220-245.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC1
2025 Potter, R. E., Foley, K., Richter, S., Cleggett, S., Dollard, M. F., Parkin, A., . . . Lushington, K. (2025). National review into work conditions & discrimination for pregnant and parent workers in Australia. Safety Science, 186(106830), 106830.
DOI
2025 Potter, R. E., Loh, M. Y., Dollard, M. F., Friebel, A., Neser, D., Afsharian, A., . . . Iles, R. (2025). Australia's national laws for worker psychological health: a policy evaluation and psychosocial safety climate analysis. Safety Science, 191(106899), 106899-1-106899-19.
DOI Scopus2 WoS3
2024 Friebel, A. G., Potter, R., & Dollard, M. (2024). Health and safety representatives' perceptions of occupational health and safety policy developments to improve work-related psychological heath: applying the theory of planned behaviour. Safety Science, 172(106410), 1-17.
DOI Scopus7 WoS4
2024 Potter, R. E., Ertel, M., Dollard, M. F., Leka, S., Jain, A., Lerouge, L., . . . VAN Dijk, P. (2024). Joint ICOH-WOPS & APA-PFAW global roundtable perspectives: exploring national policy approaches for psychological health at work through the 'National Policy Index' lens. Industrial Health, 62(6), 353-366.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC2
2024 Dollard, M. F., Loh, M., Becher, H., Neser, D., Richter, S., Zadow, A., . . . Potter, R. (2024). PSC as an organisational level determinant of working time lost and expenditure following workplace injuries and illnesses. Safety Science, 177(106602), 106602.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4
2024 Boorman, A., Webb, S., Potter, R., & Mortimer Royle, E. (2024). A nation divided: a qualitative exploration of Australians' attitudes towards the date of Australia Day. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 34(4, article no. e2847), 1-20.
DOI
2024 Potter, R., Ertel, M., & Dollard, M. (2024). Global accord for worker mental health: Tokyo declaration on National Policy Commitments. Industrial Health, 62(6), 352.
DOI
2024 Potter, R. E., Dollard, M., Lerouge, L., Jain, A., Leka, S., & Cefaliello, A. (2024). National Policy Index (NPI) for worker mental health and its relationship with enterprise psychosocial safety climate. Safety Science, 172(106428), 1-13.
DOI
2022 Jhuremalani, A., Potter, R., Lushington, K., & Lowies, B. (2022). COVID‐19: financial well‐being of older Australians in times of crisis. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 41(3), 440-447.
DOI
2022 Potter, R., Jamieson, S., Jain, A., Leka, S., Dollard, M., & O'Keeffe, V. (2022). Evaluation of national work-related psychosocial risk management policies: an international review of the literature. Safety Science, 154(105854), 1-17.
DOI
2022 Mansour, S., Azeem, M. F., Dollard, M., & Potter, R. (2022). How psychosocial safety climate helped alleviate work intensification effects on presenteeism during the COVID-19 Crisis? A moderated mediation model. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health, 19(20, article no. 13673), 1-18.
DOI
2022 Potter, R. E., Dollard, M., Pignata, S., Zadow, A., & Lushington, K. (2022). Review of practice & policy strategies for managing digital communication and ICT use in Australian universities. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 5(100160), 9 pages.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6
2022 Parkin, A. K., Zadow, A. J., Potter, R. E., Afsharian, A., Dollard, M. F., Pignata, S., . . . Lushington, K. (2022). The role of psychosocial safety climate on flexible work from home digital job demands and work-life conflict. Industrial Health, 61(5), 307-319.
DOI Scopus9 WoS10 Europe PMC2
2021 Potter, R. E., Zadow, A., Dollard, M., Pignata, S., & Lushington, K. (2021). Digital communication, health & wellbeing in universities: a double-edged sword. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 44(1), 72-89.
DOI Scopus18 WoS11
2020 Potter, R., & O'Keeffe, V. (2020). Australian work health and safety policy for psychosocial hazards and risks: problems, perceptions and practice. Journal of Health and Safety Research and Practice, 10(1), 22-30.
2019 Potter, R. E., O'Keeffe, V., Leka, S., & Dollard, M. (2019). Australian work health and safety policy for the regulation of psychosocial risks: perspectives from key informants. Policy and practice in health and safety, 17(2), 112-132.
DOI
2019 Potter, R., O'Keeffe, V., Leka, S., Webber, M., & Dollard, M. (2019). Analytical review of the Australian policy context for work-related psychological health and psychosocial risks. Safety science, 111, 37-48.
DOI
2017 Potter, R. E., Dollard, M. F., Owen, M. S., O'Keeffe, V., Bailey, T. S., & Leka, S. (2017). Assessing a national work health and safety policy intervention using the psychosocial safety climate framework. Safety science, 100(A), 91-102.
DOI Scopus31 WoS25

Year Citation
- Afsharian, A., Bakker, A., Dollard, M., Lushington, K., Pignata, S., Zadow, A., . . . Loh, M. Y. (n.d.). Australian University Staff Work, E-Stress and Wellbeing Survey Data.
DOI
  • Facilitator and Research Partner for Mind Your Head Program SA, SA Unions, 06/05/2025 - 31/12/2026

  • Measuring Organisational Psychosocial Safety Climate, CMTEDD ACT Treasury, 01/08/2024 - 01/08/2026

  • Building a PSC system for the management of psychosocial risks in WA Mining Sector organisations, Edith Cowan University, 15/11/2024 - 30/05/2026

  • International Labour Organisation Global Report on Psychosocial Risks and Mental Health at Work, International Labour Office, 15/06/2025 - 15/12/2025

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 External Supervisor Policy translation for mental health at work: A focus on empowering key stakeholders Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Ash Grace Friebel
2025 External Supervisor A study of the workplace factors associated with work addiction and depression in mothers. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Sara El-Kaissi
2025 External Supervisor A study of the workplace factors associated with work addiction and depression in mothers. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Sara El-Kaissi
2025 External Supervisor Policy translation for mental health at work: A focus on empowering key stakeholders Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Ash Grace Friebel
2023 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Dinethi Jayarathna
2022 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Gemma David
2021 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Arti Jhuremalani
2019 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Amy Kaye Parkin

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