The SafeWork SA awards were presented by the Governor of South Australia, her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC at a Government House ceremony on 20 October.

The Augusta Zadow Awards have been run by SafeWork SA since 2005 and provide grants of up to $25,000 to help meet the costs of a work health and safety initiative.

Presented each October during National Safe Work Month, the awards support initiatives, research or further education that improve health and safety for women and young workers in South Australia.

The 2023 winners are:

• Dr Andrew Day & Dr Katherine McLachlan, The Magnolia Project. This project will develop a set of resources to support early-career professionals in the criminal justice system.
• Bell Baker, Adelaide Hills & Fleurieu Farm Services. The Tractoring for Women project aims to empower women in agriculture with practical training in tractor operation and on-farm safety.
• Dr Annabelle Neall, Prof Melanie Takarangi, Assoc Prof Lydia Woodyatt, Flinders University. Enhancing Women’s Psychological Safety and Wellbeing via Best Practice Framework for Workplace Sexual Harassment Reporting Processes will evaluate current practice and provide a best practice framework for workplace reporting of sexual harassment based on psychological needs.

Augusta Zadow was an advocate and safety champion for women’s rights in the workplace as South Australia’s “First Lady Inspector of Factories” in 1895. She was a woman ahead of her time, with many of the working conditions today, attributable to her advocacy.

Industrial Relations and Public Sector Minister Kyam Maher commended this year’s winners for their excellent work.

'Congratulations to the worthy recipients of this year’s awards,' he said.

'I am pleased to see that the vital work of those employed in the criminal justice system, those seeking to combat workplace bullying and harassment, as well as those working to empower women and improve on-farm safety, are being recognised and supported.

'I look forward to seeing the progress of these important projects in the future.'

SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said the 2023 awards generated a host of innovative ideas from a wide range of applicants.

‘Now we will have the opportunity to see these three projects evolve into valuable safety initiatives,’ he said.

‘This year’s winners have done a fantastic job of showcasing projects that will benefit young workers and women, which are the two focus areas of the Augusta Zadow Awards.

‘I’d like to thank everyone who submitted a proposal for their creative contributions to workplace health and safety.’

The Augusta Zadow Awards are presented as part of National Safe Work Month.