This year's Rail R U OK?Day —held 12 April— was a resounding success with the initiative reaching over 30,000 rail industry employees from across Australia and New Zealand. The numbers have more than doubled since last year with 14,000 participating in 2017. The initiative continues to gain more and more momentum, and it’s popular for good reason – the meaning behind it and the importance of helping workmates who seem to be doing it tough. Through Rail R U OK?Day we are helping rail industry workers feel safe and genuinely supported at work. 

In the eight weeks leading up to the Day, rail employees across Australia and New Zealand created a conversation movement by asking, “are you ok?” of each other and being connected via Quentin the interactive digital question mark. TrackSAFE and R U OK? sent Quentin on a relay-style trip travelling every state and territory visiting rail workplaces. In addition to Quentin, R U OK? branded locomotives in Western Australia and Queensland, courtesy of Pacific National and Aurizon have acted as visual reminders to Australians to join the conversation movement by checking in with friends and loved ones. TrackSAFE would like to extend a big thank you to the Company Champions who helped drive the initiative via internal channels and also thank Quentin's keepers who helped move him around the country. In case you missed it, check out the Rail R U OK?Day launch video. You can also catch the highlights at https://www.ruok.org.au/rail-r-u-ok-day 

TrackSAFE recently celebrated its sixth birthday. In 2012 the Foundation was formed due to a strong desire among senior rail executives to do more to help rail employees impacted by incidents occurring on the rail network.

"With TrackSAFE turning six, we have stopped to reflect on the remarkable journey so far and acknowledge the achievements of industry through TrackSAFE over the last few years. 

I am humbled to see TrackSAFE's initiatives grow bigger each year and to hear first-hand stories about the difference we're making for rail employees. We have been able to build solid foundations and are committed to continuing to bolster our work program with the ultimate aim that every rail employee can go to work, do their job and return home safely." Naomi Frauenfelder, Executive Director.

The Pause.Call.Be Heard. campaign is up and running in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. TrackSAFE and Lifeline launched Pause.Call.Be Heard (a national billboard campaign) to promote help-seeking. The campaign at rail stations, tram stops and bus shelters acts as an important reminder to everyone to take a moment, pause, and call Lifeline if in need - 13 11 14. It will be running for the next 12 months and ideally be extended across the country. Pause.Call.Be Heard. represents a strong commitment to doing what we can —through the rail industry— to use rail environments to promote health and wellbeing to the public and to rail employees.

Tasmania Course

TrackSAFE ran Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training for TasRail last month, with 25 employees taking part in the in-house training. The course focused on teaching best practice mental health strategies and participants were given the opportunity to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to provide help to a person struggling with a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Some feedback from participants:

 

TrackSAFE ran an open MHFA training in Sydney in mid-March, allowing different rail organisations to come together and undertake training. Participants were from Sydney Trains, Transdev New Zealand, ARTC, Thales, UGL, Alstom, the RTBU, Downer Infrastructure and NSWTrainLink.

Upcoming courses will be held in Melbourne and Brisbane. Please get in touch to find out more details: CONTACT: Sara Ross sross@tracksafefoundation.com.au 

This year's Rail Safety Week will run 13 - 19 August.

New Rail Safety Week marketing materials (posters, hand outs and web banners etc.) will be available on the TrackSAFE website by the end of May. 

 

 

 

Working together to save lives
tracksafefoundation.com.au