A healthier, happy workplace

At the heart of Raytheon Australia is EHS&W, with Potter and her team responsible for the vital function of organisation health and safety. Potter recognises the crucial importance of health and wellbeing and believes that “safety is engrained in every aspect of life, not just at work but at home too.”

Potter's career has always revolved around health. She studied Human Movement Science for her bachelor’s degree and later earned a Master's in Occupational Therapy. In addition, Potter holds a Certificate IV in Work Health & Safety and Workplace Training and Assessment and is a certified Wellbeing Coach and Mental Health First Aider.

Before joining Raytheon Australia in 2017, Potter worked in various health and safety roles. She was named the National EHS&W Director in 2018, a position that continues to evolve to meet the changing landscape of organisational safety.

As industry views have shifted – from recognising safety as an inherently physical function to understanding it’s holistic nature, encompassing mental health, wellbeing, and the wider environment as a vital part of overall safety – Potter has remained proactive in ensuring Raytheon Australia is at the forefront of strategic, organisational safety.

“Organisational and career wellbeing is a partnership of accountability between the two parties. A culture that values EHS&W starts at the very top, and one of the biggest challenges I have is keeping up with the appetite our leaders have for health and safety,” Potter said.

“Our annual strategy sets the tone for me and my team to empower our workforce with every interaction we have. This way, our people feel safe and heard, and they’re our priority – everyday.”

To maintain the correct health and safety practices company-wide, individuals must understand their own EHS&W responsibilities. Potter believes that safety can be both accessible and personally fulfilling, and that by taking personal ownership of safety, everyone can help create better EHS&W practices throughout the organisation.

“That’s an integral part of our safety focus this year. Our safety campaign is targeted towards empowering our people about what they can do personally to improve safety, and in doing that our organisation as a whole will have better EHS&W practices. Leading and starting with safety is something everyone can do.” 

“This could involve keeping workplaces clean from clutter, staying hydrated while at work and taking regular breaks away from electronic devices,” Potter said.  

Safework Australia has outlined opportunities for improvement for Australian Industry EHS&W standards, and through Potter’s guidance, Raytheon Australia is actively strengthening its stance on safety.

Potter spearheads Raytheon Australia’s commitment to ‘Target Zero’, which focuses on creating an injury-free workplace. Potter believes in “going to work safely, leaving safely and returning home healthy.”

“At the heart of our organisation is our people, and their health and wellbeing,” Potter said. “If we operate safely, then we can operate as our best selves, and perform and achieve beyond expectation.

“I believe action starts with the simplest of steps - ensuring we are each mentally and physically ready to take on the day.

“The happier and healthier we all are, the more productive we become, both at work and in our day-to-day lives.”

When asked about prioritising her own health and wellbeing, Potter aims “for balance” with three non-negotiables allowing her to feel her best. 

“The first one is nutrition,” Potter said. “That gives me the energy to do what I want to do. Secondly, it’s physical activity. Exercise is another non-negotiable, five days a week. And the third one is sleep – I love my sleep. Rest is one thing, but recovery is critical for our sustainable performance.”

When considering personal choices, Potter and her team of EHS&W specialists encourage their workmates to make the right call and prioritise safety and wellbeing in all aspects of life.

“Health and wellbeing are not costs. They’re investments in self, in performance, in energy, in mood, in decision-making. This is something I firmly believe in.”

Just as a strong heart is essential to the health and wellbeing of the human body, a strong EHS&W program is the essential to the overall health and wellbeing of Raytheon Australia and its people. Sustaining an environment that understands, utilises and priorities health leads to employee fulfillment, ultimately creating a workplace with happy people who generate strategic success for the organisation.