Taking place across the month of October, National Safe Work Month NT will include a program of speakers, covering a range of topics including worker fatigue, complacency in the workplace, and mental health.

The 2026 theme of National Safe Work Month – which is an opportunity for employers across Australia to renew their commitment to safe and healthy workplaces – is “Safe Work is for Life”.

The program is intended to highlight the importance of protecting workers’ health, safety and wellbeing for the long term. Together, the three speakers will explore three critical aspects of workplace safety issues that can affect every workplace and every worker, from frontline employees to managers and business leaders.

Taking place in Darwin and Alice Springs, events include an address by internationally recognised sleep and fatigue expert Professor Drew Dawson, who will explain the science behind fatigue, its impact on decision-making and performance, and what workers and organisations can do to better manage the risks.

In addition, former Australian rugby League player and safety ambassador Shane Webcke will offer a personal perspective on workplace safety. After losing his father in a workplace incident, Webcke has spent years sharing his story and encouraging workers and organisations to avoid complacency and put safety first.

Meanwhile, mental health educator and advocate Michael Donehue will discuss the importance of recognising and managing psychosocial risks in the workplace, sharing practical strategies to build resilience and wellbeing, recognise when someone may be struggling and support themselves and others to access help when it is needed.