The Landmark Study
Research and development is pivotal to the aims and achievements of the MARS Program. The State Government has engaged the Centre for Transformative Work Design (CTWD) at Curtin University to design and implement a research and evaluation project on mental health, sexual harassment, emerging mine safety issues as well as workplace initiatives to improve mental health, wellbeing, culture and respect in the mining industry.
The Landmark Study will include the collection of baseline data on workers’ experiences in the industry, with a follow-up data collection after three years to evaluate the success of workplace initiatives intended to improve mental health, well-being, culture and respect in the mining industry.
Preliminary Report 1: Towards a healthy and safe workforce in the mining industry: A review and mapping of current practice
This report provides an assessment of employee well-being in the mining sector and develops an innovative approach to construct measures of employers’ prioritisation of three dimensions of well-being: mental health and well-being, physical health and safety, and workplace culture that protects against sexual harassment.
Download MARS - Preliminary Report 1: A review and mapping of current practice (PDF 6.9MB)
Preliminary Report 2A: The Landmark Study: A review and synthesis of the literature
This report provides a literature review which provides an overview and synthesis of the current literature concerning the three focus areas. Findings from this report will guide the further investigation of these focus areas.
Download MARS - Preliminary Report 2A: A review and synthesis of the literature (PDF 2.09MB)
Preliminary Report 2B: Landmark Study: Workplace policy and practice survey
This report establishes as baseline of current practices and experiences, through a workplace policy and practice survey. The survey asked than 100 human resources and related experts about the initiatives engaged in by their current companies.
Download MARS Preliminary Report 2B: Workplace policy and practice survey (PDF 6.29MB)
Landmark Study Report: Insights from the Worker Survey and Interviews
This report will establish a baseline of current practices and experiences, through:
- an employee survey that assesses employees’ experiences in regard to the three focus areas.
- employee interviews to understand the lived experiences of employees in relation to the three focus areas.
Download MARS Landmark Study Report: Insights from the worker survey and interviews (PDF 10.32MB)
Preliminary Report 3
This report consists of the findings from a follow-up data collection effort. The success of the initiatives implemented after the baseline data collection will be evaluated in this report. This report is expected to be released early 2026.
Final Report 4: Final report
The fourth and final report will synthesise the findings and report on efforts across the four years, including but not limited to data collection efforts to track the trajectories and changes in the three focus areas over time, and will include recommendations. This report is expected to be released second quarter 2026.
Two surveys were used to inform the Landmark Study Report: Insights from the Worker Survey and Interviews.
- The workplace policy and practices survey that assessed the initiatives that mining companies engage in to support employee well-being. This survey closed 4 November 2022.
- An employee survey that assesses employees’ experiences in regard to the three focus areas. This survey took place in March 2023.
The findings of the Landmark Study may inform industry and will help guide future funding decisions for the MARS Program.
More information about the Landmark Study.
Publications
- 'Enough is Enough' - Sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry: Report
- Western Australian Government response to the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee Report 2: ‘Enough is Enough’
- 'Enough is Enough': 2022 progress report
- How tough are we now? A report for WorkSafe Mines Safety
Funded by the MARS Program and conducted by WorkSafe Mines Safety, the mining industry workers participated in a series of five regional workshops in May 2023. Presented by Dr Dean Laplonge from Factive Consulting, the workshop focussed discussions on the links between gender and safety, and reflection of the industry changes and learnings over time. Dr Laplonge presented these findings at the Mining Industry Summit: Driving Respect. Future workshops to work with key representative groups, are scheduled to take place during 2024. - Respect@Work: Sexual Harassment National Inquiry Report (2020)
- Productivity Commission’s Mental Health Inquiry Report
