This document summarizes the findings of a survey of 1,044 health, safety, and environment positions across 116 Australian companies from diverse industries. It found that HSE positions grew 14% overall in the past year, with environmental and sustainability roles increasing 3%. OHS/HSE manager salaries grew 33% on average to $182,673. Qualifications are now required at all levels of HSE work. Western Australia leads the country in HSE leadership roles and salaries, particularly for resources industry jobs. The demand for HSE professionals is high but qualifications and experience are important to attract and retain top talent.

2. • Data from 116 Australian companies
• Diverse range of industries including energy, resources,
construction, manufacturing, industrial and retail
• 1,044 positions profiled
• Officer through to General Manager
• Qualitative component and seven year trend analysis
introduction to survey

3. • Overall there was a 14% growth across all HSE positions whilst
environment and sustainability increased by 3%
• OHS/HSE Managers indicated a 33% growth in Total Actual
Remuneration to an average TAR of $182,673 compared with
$137,026 last year
• TAR is often higher than their supervisors in national roles
• Coordinator level TAR has grown 30% to $126,562, with STI
eligibility doubling
• Senior Executives (GM level) have seen a 6% increase in income
growth in project salaries has
overall impact

4. • Consistent with previous years findings – demand for formal
qualifications continue to rise, becoming essential at entry level
• At the OHS/HSE Officer level formal qualifications have increased
by 37% over last year
• OHS/HSE Coordinators qualified to a minimum degree level has
fallen slightly
• Establishment of OHS Education Accreditation Board
qualifications

5. • WA and QLD hold leadership positions across almost all
categories
• Project focused roles in WA meant a huge variation at
Coordinator level (an average TAR of $161,685 in WA vs
$105,124 in SA)
• WA regains it leadership position at General Manager level
after relinquishing this position to NSW last year
geographical differences

6. OHS/HSE Officers - ACT
OHS/HSE Coordinators/Advisors – Western Australia
OHS Managers – Western Australia
National OHS/HSE Managers – Queensland
General Managers OHS/HSE – Western Australia
highest packages – geography

7. position analysis by state
National OHS/HSE Manager
General Manager OHS/HSE

8. highest packages – industry
• OHS/HSE Officers
1) Other
2) Government / Government Funded
• OHS/HSE Coordinators/Advisors
1) Energy & Mining / Construction / Resources (Oil & Gas)
2) Telecommunications / Transport / Manufacturing /
Industrial
• OHS Managers
1. Energy & Mining / Construction / Resources (Oil & Gas)
2. Other

9. highest packages – industry (cont)
• National OHS/HSE Managers
1) Energy & Mining / Construction / Resources (Oil & Gas)
2) Professional / Consulting / Retail Services
• General Managers OHS/HSE
1) Energy & Mining / Construction / Resources (Oil & Gas)
2) Telecommunications / Transport / Manufacturing /
Industrial

10. sustainability function
• Pressure to show commercial value to the business, translating to
remuneration packages having a higher incentive component
• Reduction in corporate team sizes and consolidation of function into
other departments (HSE, Risk, Marketing etc)
• Continued importance in the resource sector – “licence to operate”

11. • Ability to Attract Talent:
1. 65% found it harder or at least as difficult as last year
2. Increased candidate availability
3. Limited candidate capability and experience
4. Work-life balance still key to attracting people from FIFO
5. “HSE has cheapened its brand by the resource sector employing
people with poor qualifications and paying exorbitant wages”
• Respondents commented on the importance of offering differentiators
and building their brand profile to attract and retain talent
qualitative findings

12. qualitative findings (cont)
• Over 60% of respondents felt formal qualifications were a must,
tempered by the following comment:
• “The appropriate combination of qualifications and
experience is essential”
• Most important change that would positively impact HSE:
1. Resources (Budget and People)
2. Ownership of HSE by Line Managers
3. Leadership Engagement
4. Reporting Structure
5. Technology Improvements (modern machinery)

13. • Project, Contract or FIFO workforce:
1. 65% of respondents had project, contract or FIFO workers
2. For 80% of these organisations they made up less than 25% of
the overall workforce
3. 40% expected this type of workforce to decrease
4. FIFO rosters reflect operational demands, not used as a
differentiator
5. Site uplifts are not paid by most organisations
6. Poaching a concern (particularly by clients)
7. 50% of organisations fully subsidise travel and time from the
point a worker leaves home
qualitative findings (cont)
30% of
contracts are
1 - 3 months

14. our observations
• Remote project workers can earn more than those in more
senior roles
• “OHS Manager are not earning an average of $6,843 more
than senior city based National Managers”
• Qualifications no longer optional for OHS workers
• “Qualifications are now essential for safety professional at
all levels”
• Environment and sustainability roles at risk
• “Flattening demand for senior environment and
sustainability professionals in recent months may indicate
that the function is at risk of being absorbed back into other
business functions”

15. 7 year analysis

16. 2011/2012 2012/2013
OHS/HSE Officer $76k $79k
OHS/HSE Advisor/Coordinator $97k $126k
OHS/HSE Manager $137k $182k
National OHS/HSE Manager $178k $176k
General Manager OHS/HSE $296k $314k
average total actual remuneration

17. THANK YOU
www.safesearch.com.au