Safe Office and Home Based Work

A well set up workstation reduces strain on your neck, shoulders, back, wrists and eyes. This lesson walks through adjusting your chair, positioning your screen, and placing your keyboard and mouse. Key points: adjust your chair so your feet are flat and your back is supported; set the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level, about an arm's length away; keep your keyboard and mouse close so your elbows stay by your sides and your wrists stay straight; reduce glare; and ask for equipment such as a footrest or document holder if you need it.

Even a perfect workstation causes problems if you sit in one position all day. This lesson covers why regular movement and changes of posture matter, how to rest your eyes, and how to use laptops safely. Key points: change position often and take short movement breaks throughout the day; look away from the screen regularly to rest your eyes; use a separate keyboard, mouse and a laptop stand or monitor for long periods of laptop work; avoid working from a couch or bed; and report discomfort early, before it becomes an injury.

Work health and safety duties do not stop at the office door. Safe Work Australia guidance confirms that when you work from home, we must still ensure your health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable, and consult with you about risks. You also have duties: to take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others, and to follow reasonable instructions and our policies. Key points: working from home arrangements need to be agreed and safe; both physical and psychosocial risks must be considered; and you must tell us about hazards and changes in your home work set up.

A safe home work area needs the same attention as an office desk. This lesson walks through a practical home workstation checklist and covers planning for emergencies and reporting incidents when you work from home. Key points: work from a dedicated, well lit area with a proper desk and adjustable chair; manage cables and trip hazards; check electrical equipment and smoke alarms; know your exit and have emergency contacts handy; keep your team leader informed of your work hours and location; and report any injury, near miss or hazard through our usual incident process.

Working from home can be productive and flexible, but it can also be isolating, and the line between work and home can blur. This lesson covers practical ways to stay connected and keep healthy routines. Key points: keep regular start, break and finish times; create a clear end to the work day; keep in touch with your team through calls, video and time in the office; watch for signs of isolation or stress in yourself and others; and speak to your team leader or use our employee assistance program where available if you are struggling.

We hold sensitive personal information about participants, families and staff, and it must be protected wherever you work. This lesson covers keeping information secure at home, in line with the Australian Privacy Principles and our privacy and information security policies. Key points: lock your screen whenever you step away; do not let family or visitors use work devices or see work information; take calls where you cannot be overheard; use only approved systems, never personal email or storage; keep paper to a minimum and dispose of it securely; and report any lost device or suspected breach straight away.

This case study follows Sam, a new finance officer who starts a hybrid arrangement and sets up at the kitchen table with a laptop. Within a few weeks Sam has neck and wrist pain and is working through lunch. The lesson shows how Sam uses the home workstation checklist, what equipment helps, why reporting discomfort early matters and how Sam and the team leader review the arrangement together. Key points: set up to fit you, use a separate keyboard and mouse with a laptop, move often, report discomfort early and review the arrangement when things change.

This case study follows Mariam, an intake coordinator who works mostly from home and has been working long hours to clear a backlog. Tired late one evening, she sends a participant's report to the wrong email address. The lesson shows how she responds to the privacy breach straight away, why quick reporting limits harm, and how her team leader looks at the workload and isolation behind the mistake. Key points: report data breaches immediately, do not try to hide mistakes, keep healthy routines and raise workload concerns early.