Study 1: Supervisor Perspectives
Exploring psychosocial safety, leadership, and psychological strength in mining
This study focuses on the experiences of supervisors working in the mining industry.
As a supervisor, you sit at a critical point in the system — balancing operational demands, safety expectations, organisational pressures, and the needs of the people you lead. This research is interested in how supervisors experience that role, particularly in relation to psychosocial safety, working relationships, and personal psychological capacity.
Your experience and perspective matter.
Who can take part?
You may be eligible to participate if you:
- you work in Western Australia, and
- you currently work (or have recently worked) as a supervisor in the mining industry, and
- you have direct reports (frontline workers).
You do not need to work for a particular company, commodity, or type of operation. This research is interested in a broad range of supervisory experiences.
What does participation involve?
Participation involves:
- One confidential, one-on-one interview
- Conducted online or by phone
- Approximately 60 minutes
- Scheduled at a time that suits you
The interview is conversational and reflective. There are no right or wrong answers, and you can decline to answer any question.
What will we talk about?
The discussion may include topics such as:
- your experience of supervising in mining,
- how psychosocial safety is supported (or challenged) at work,
- your working relationships with frontline workers,
- how you manage pressure, uncertainty, and competing demands, and
- the personal strengths or capacities you draw on in your role.
This is not an assessment of your performance or leadership capability. It is about understanding lived experience.
What happens after the interview?
- Interviews are transcribed and de-identified.
- No names, companies, or identifying details will appear in any publications.
- Findings will be reported at a group level, not an individual level.
- The results will contribute to peer-reviewed academic publications and the final PhD thesis.
Will my employer know I’ve participated?
No.
Participation is confidential and independent of employers, organisations, or regulators. Your decision to participate — or not participate — will not be shared with anyone.
Voluntary participation
Your participation is entirely voluntary.
You are free to:
- withdraw at any time,
- stop the interview,
- or request that your data not be used — without needing to give a reason.
Ethics approval status
This study is currently pending formal ethics approval from Edith Cowan University.
You will not be interviewed until ethics approval has been granted. You are welcome to register an expression of interest now, and I will contact you once approval is in place.