Work Health & Safety Foundation

What Work Health & Safety Foundation does

Work Health & Safety Foundation (WHS Foundation) is a Western Australian registered charity and Registered Training Organisation (RTO 1907) that delivers occupational health and safety education, consulting, auditing, recruitment and advocacy services. Founded in 1972 as the Industrial Foundation for Accident Prevention (IFAP) and rebranded in March 2022, the organisation operates five service pillars: WHS Academy (nationally recognised and non-nationally recognised training), WHS Advisory (consulting, audits, risk management), WHS Assurance (ISO 45001 and OFSC certification audits), WHS Agency (recruitment of safety professionals), and WHS Advocacy (member representation and submissions). It is approved by WorkSafe WA, Comcare, and NOPSEMA to deliver legislatively mandated Health & Safety Representative and statutory supervisor training.

The foundation's technology stack combines the AXcelerate Learning Management System for course delivery and student management, Microsoft Teams for virtual training, and Yealink videoconferencing rooms with AI-assisted face detection, voice tracking and sound-source location features. Training is delivered face-to-face at the 10-acre WHS Centre campus in North Lake and partner sites in Balcatta and Bunbury, online via virtual classrooms, and onsite for enterprise clients. A partnership with RiskTalk adds a digital WHS risk management platform distributed through the foundation in Western Australia.

WHS Foundation generates revenue through per-course fees (A$243–$2,195), a three-tier annual membership program (Individual A$100, Corporate A$495, Corporate Plus A$895), advisory and assurance consulting, recruitment placements, and the annual WHS Awards gala. Customers span WA mining (BHP, Rio Tinto, Byrnecut), government healthcare (WACHS, South Metropolitan Health), tertiary education (Murdoch University) and individual safety professionals. The foundation is governed by a board led by Managing Director Michael Morgan and President Graham Butler, and reinvests surplus into advocacy and member services under its ACNC and DGR charitable status.

Name

Work Health & Safety Foundation

Legal name

Work Health & Safety Foundation

Website

https://whsfoundation.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WHS Foundation is a Western Australian registered charity and RTO (1907) delivering work health and safety training, consulting, auditing, recruitment and advocacy across mining, oil and gas, government and general industry sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Occupational Safety Training and Consultancy

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

General Occupational Safety & OSHA Compliance (EDABAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Occupational Safety, OSHA & Workplace Compliance Training (EDAOAMAK)

Keywords

• Occupational safety training
• Work health and safety
• Registered training organisation
• Workplace safety compliance
• Safety consultancy services

Headquarters

HQ city

North Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Course Fees: Primary revenue stream from nationally recognised and non-nationally recognised training courses offered face-to-face at training centres and online. Courses include Certificate IV in WHS, HSR training, mining statutory supervisor courses, and specialised programs. Pricing varies by membership tier with member discounts.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership tiers (Individual $100, Corporate $495, Corporate Plus $895) providing discounts on training courses, consultancy services, events, awards entries, and other benefits. Membership helps fund WHS advocacy work.
3. WHS Advisory and Consulting Services: Revenue from professional WHS consulting services including audits, inspections, risk management, incident management, and safety reviews for business clients.
4. WHS Assurance Services: Revenue from assurance and certification audits for external and internal standards including ISO 45001, WorkSafe Plan, and OFSC certifications.
5. WHS Agency Recruitment Services: Revenue from recruitment and placement of WHS professionals for clients, including permanent, full/part-time, temporary and contract roles across Western Australia.
6. WHS Awards Events: Revenue from annual WHS Awards Gala Dinner events, ticket sales, nominations, and sponsorship partnerships with companies like CGU Insurance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Work Health & Safety Foundation is a not-for-profit Registered Training Organisation (RTO #1907) that delivers nationally recognised work health and safety training courses, including Certificate IV in WHS, Mining Statutory Supervisor, and Health & Safety Representative courses approved by WorkSafe WA, Comcare, and NOPSEMA. Beyond training, it provides complementary WHS services spanning advisory consulting, assurance auditing, recruitment, and advocacy representation, primarily serving mining, oil and gas, government, healthcare, and general industry clients in Western Australia.

Product overview

Work Health & Safety Foundation offers a comprehensive suite of work health and safety services centred around five core pillars: WHS Academy (training and learning), WHS Advisory (consulting services), WHS Assurance (auditing and certification), WHS Agency (recruitment), and WHS Advocacy (representation). The Academy provides nationally recognised training including Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety, Mining Statutory Supervisor courses, and Health & Safety Representative training approved by WorkSafe WA, Comcare, and NOPSEMA. The organization also hosts the annual WHS Awards program, operates the WHS Centre facility in North Lake, and partners with RiskTalk for digital safety management tools. Membership tiers provide access to discounted services across all offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WHS Academy Training and learning services delivering face-to-face and online facilitated training, webinars and e-Learning for work health and safety professionals across Western Australia.
• WHS Advisory Consulting and advice services including audits, inspections, reviews, professional representation, and WHS products for establishing and maintaining safer workplaces, delivered to business clients.
• WHS Assurance Auditing, certification and verification services for external and internal standards, including Exemplar Global certified audits for WHS management systems.
• WHS Agency Recruitment and placement services for WHS professionals, including permanent, full/part-time, temporary and contract roles, plus WHS contract and labour-hire services across Western Australia.
• WHS Advocacy Delegation and representation services including WHS submissions, delegations, member representation, communication, and referral for legal advice through partner legal firms.
• BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety Nationally recognised competency-based qualification for individuals seeking to develop skills and knowledge for WHS roles, delivered over 5 days face-to-face plus 12-month self-paced assessment.
• Mining WHS Statutory Supervisor Course Three-day face-to-face course designed to equip Statutory Supervisors with knowledge and skills to meet Schedule 26 of WHS (Mines) Regulations (WA) 2022 requirements.
• Health & Safety Representative (WorkSafe WA) Five-day introductory training program for elected Health and Safety Representatives meeting Work Health and Safety Act 2020 requirements, approved by WorkSafe WA.
• Health & Safety Representative Refresher (WorkSafe WA) One-day refresher course for elected HSRs who have completed the introductory five-day training, providing updates on WHS legislation amendments.
• Health & Safety Representative - Commonwealth (Comcare) Five-day Comcare-approved training for elected HSRs in Comcare Licensee companies and Commonwealth departments and agencies.
• Health & Safety Representative Refresher - Offshore Oil & Gas (NOPSEMA) One-day NOPSEMA-approved refresher course for elected HSRs in the offshore oil and gas industry.
• Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Coordinator Two-day course for individuals managing injured workers and workplace injury management, covering WA workers' compensation legislation including July 2024 updates.
• Response, Investigation and Management of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (Mining) Four-day two-level program developed jointly with FIFO Focus, funded by DMIRS MARS Program, for developing internal capability to respond to and investigate sexual harassment incidents in the WA mining sector.
• Heavy Vehicle Road Safety - Hazard & Risk Program Two-day introductory course for aspiring heavy vehicle operators without HV driver's licence, covering road transport industry hazards and risks, funded by NHVR.
• WHS Foundation Membership Program Tiered annual membership (Individual $100, Corporate $495, Corporate Plus $895) offering 10% discounts on training and consultancy, awards entries, e-news, and additional Corporate Plus benefits including free awards nomination, WHS Health Check, email newsletter advertisement, and room hire discount.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 years serving Western Australian community with safety and health education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• NHVR (National Heavy Vehicle Regulator)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 July 2024Funder of Heavy Vehicle Road Safety program under Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), supported by Australian Government. Course provided FREE to participants.
• NSCA FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2024Joint hosting of Perth Safety & Injury Forum 2024 with industry leaders and expert speakers. Both organisations are major not-for-profit WHS member-based organisations in Australia with long intertwined history. NSCA Foundation originated from NSCA founded in 1927. Both are members of APOSHO.
• NSCA FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2024Joint hosting of Perth Safety Forum 2023 with 12 speakers covering Leadership, Psychosocial Hazards, and Risk Management topics. Both organisations share common origin with WHS Foundation originating from NSCA (Western Division) in early 1960s.
• NOPSEMAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2024Partnership with Australia's offshore energy regulator for HSR Training & Forum. WHS Foundation delivers NOPSEMA-approved HSR refresher course for offshore oil and gas industry. Joint hosting of HSR Forum with expert speakers on legislation, psychosocial hazards.
• FIFO FocuscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2023Joint development of Response, Investigation and Management of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace program. FIFO Focus provides Level 1 trauma-informed training as registered/endorsed psychologists. Program funded by DEMIRS under MARS Program for WA mining sector.
• DEMIRS (Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2023Government funder of sexual harassment training under Mental Health Awareness and Respect (MARS) Program. Program developed jointly and heavily subsidised for WA mining industry participants.
• Fire & Safety AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 September 2022Strategic partnership at WHS Centre North Lake. In 2023, FSA acquired WHS Foundation's High Risk Work License training division. FSA (established 2007) operates nationally with 150+ team members. Shared vision of improving work health and safety.
• RiskTalkcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022WHS Foundation is the home of RiskTalk in Western Australia. Partnership enables digital transformation of workplace safety conversations, reducing paperwork and keeping workers safe. WHS Foundation resells/promotes RiskTalk safety management platform.
• CGU InsurancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term event partner for WHS Awards. Gold event partner for multiple years. CGU Insurance is a leading commercial, rural and personal lines insurer and top three workers compensation insurance provider.
• AusQ TrainingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-located at WHS Centre campus. AusQ Training provides traffic management and construction training. Helps raise professionalism and safety standards in regional areas.
• AMEC (Association of Mining and Exploration Companies)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides complimentary e-learning pre-examination course for Statutory Supervisors. AMEC is a member organisation with logo displayed on WHS Foundation website.
• Australian Institute of Health & Safety (AIHS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organisation with logo displayed on website. AIHS provides event booking platform for DEMIRS-funded sexual harassment training courses.
• Surf Life Saving WAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining location partner providing facilities at Balcatta for WHS Foundation training courses.
• Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BGCCI)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional training location partner providing facilities at Bunbury for WHS Foundation training courses.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NSCA Foundation: National Safety Council of Australia Foundation is a fellow Australian not-for-profit WHS member-based organisation with origins from 1927. Operates a parallel portfolio of safety training, advocacy, and member services nationally, directly comparable as a peer NFP safety training body and current strategic partner of WHS Foundation.
• Fire & Safety Australia: National WHS and high-risk training provider established 2007 with 150+ staff, co-located at WHS Foundation's WHS Centre after acquiring its HRWL division. Offers overlapping WHS, fire, and rescue training courses to similar mining, oil and gas, and government customers across Australia.
• ERGT Australia: Specialist safety training provider for oil and gas, mining, and industrial sectors with NOPSEMA-aligned courses and HSR programs. Directly comparable as a peer delivering regulator-approved WHS training to resource-sector customers.
• Mines Rescue: Mining-specific emergency response and WHS training provider serving WA and other Australian mining regions. Comparable as a peer delivering mandated mining-sector safety training to overlapping enterprise mining customers.
• Site Skills Group: Nationally scaled RTO delivering WHS, high-risk, and vocational training to mining, oil and gas, and construction sectors across Australia. Comparable as a peer RTO competing for the same enterprise training budgets in WA.
• Pinnacle Safety: Australian safety training provider offering WHS, high-risk, and emergency response courses to mining, construction, and industrial clients. Comparable as a peer RTO delivering similar face-to-face WHS training packages.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Institute of Health & Safety (AIHS): Australia's peak professional body for WHS practitioners, offering certification, training, events, and advocacy. Comparable as the broader industry umbrella that WHS Foundation engages with via Platinum Sponsorship of AIHS Perth Safety Symposium.
• TAFE WA (North Metropolitan TAFE / South Metropolitan TAFE): Western Australia's public vocational education provider offering Certificate IV in WHS and related qualifications. Comparable as a public-sector alternative for the same nationally recognised courses WHS Foundation delivers.

Regional players

• St John WA: Western Australian first aid, health, and safety training provider with similar geographic focus and not-for-profit heritage. Comparable as a WA-based NFP offering workplace safety and first-aid training to overlapping corporate and government customers.

Emerging players

• RiskTalk: Digital WHS risk management platform whose Western Australian operations are housed at WHS Foundation. Comparable as an adjacent technology player reshaping how WHS conversations and risk reporting are conducted alongside traditional training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thewhsf
• Facebookfacebook.com/thewhsfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whsfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/thewhsfoundation

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Work Health & Safety Foundation