Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds launches first of its kind psychosocial risk management pilot program for transport and logistics industry

Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, a national not-for-profit foundation dedicated to improving mental health and physical wellbeing across Australia’s road transport, warehousing and logistics sectors, today announced the launch of an industry-first psychosocial risk management pilot, Healthy Heads Thrive, in collaboration with AP Psychology & Consulting Services and Gallagher Bassett.  

The pilot has already attracted up to 10 businesses across the transport, warehousing and logistics sector that will take part in the trial, including Lindsays, JTEC and Eather Group. As part of the initiative, these organisations will trial a digitally enabled end-to-end psychosocial risk management system built for the sector, helping employers identify workplace hazards, assess risks and implement practical workplace control measures before issues escalate into psychological injury.  

The launch comes at a critical time with rising mental health claims, increasing regulatory scrutiny and growing concern around burnout, fatigue, isolation and workforce retention across the sector. Further claims insights from Gallagher Bassett show psychological injuries account for 12% of serious claims but cost more than four times as much as physical injuries on average ($67,000 compared to $16,000), with claims lasting an average of 35.7 weeks.  

Melissa Weller, General Manager, Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, said, “Despite growing awareness and increasing regulatory attention around psychosocial safety, many businesses still lack a practical, end-to-end approach to managing these risks in operational environments”.  

“Across transport and logistics, many of the conditions impacting mental health and wellbeing have become normalised because people are deeply committed to getting the job done. Psychological health is no longer a ‘nice to have’ conversation. Healthy Heads Thrive has been designed by the industry, for the industry, to help businesses systematically identify, assess and manage psychosocial hazards in a practical and scalable way.”  

Arthur Papagiannis, Founder and CEO, AP Psychology & Consulting Services, said, “People working across the industry are exposed to a unique combination of psychosocial hazards, including fatigue, high job demands, isolation, trauma exposure and ongoing operational pressure. These risks often build over time rather than resulting from a single incident, making it harder to identify early and manage effectively. Healthy Heads Thrive will give businesses a practical, evidence-based framework to assess psychosocial risks, develop action plans and build leadership capability across the organisation.”  

Debbie Vounakis, Head of Sales & Client Services – Personal Injury, Gallagher Bassett, said, “While psychological injuries represent a smaller proportion of serious claims overall, they are typically more complex, longer‑lasting, and significantly more costly than physical injuries. Proactive risk identification and assessment are therefore critical to addressing emerging issues before they escalate. This pilot represents an important step towards earlier intervention and prevention, supporting better outcomes across the sector.” 

The Healthy Heads Thrive pilot is expected to help businesses move beyond awareness and into meaningful action, giving the transport, logistics and warehousing sector clearer systems, tools and support to create a psychologically healthier, safer and more sustainable workplace.  

To learn more about the pilot, visit the Healthy Heads website here for further information.