dr. L.S. Fruhen (Laura)

My research examines how individual and contextual factors shape safety, health, and wellbeing in the workplace. I focus on how organizational structures and leadership dynamics influence behavioural outcomes and psychosocial risk.

Two primary streams underpin my work:

• Leadership: Investigating leader behaviours, cognitive frameworks, and their influence on safety and wellbeing.

• Work Design: Exploring atypical configurations of work—including automation and non-standard roles—and their implications for human performance and mental health.

My empirical studies span diverse high-risk and high-reliability sectors, including aviation, mining, emergency services, and healthcare. These investigations have been conducted across several organizational levels, spanning from frontline teams to executive leadership.

My research has directly informed policy and practice. Notably, my work on the mental health of FIFO (Fly-In Fly-Out) workers contributed to the development of Australia’s first Code of Practice addressing workplace mental health.

Making my research accesible to others, and supporting its application in practice is important to me. I maintain active collaborations with government agencies and industry partners to ensure the translational impact of my research. This includes the development of evidence-based tools, delivery of targeted workshops, and dissemination through white papers, presentations, and media engagements.