In a recent article featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, Barbara Cosson sat down with Dr. Angie Montgomery to discuss how she had pivoted from her clinical background in psychology into developing innovative technology designed to improve health outcomes. The article was written as part of a broader segment on Women in Leadership for International Women’s Day, 2023.

‍

Below is the article written by Barbara Cosson featured in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald:

‍

With updated health and safety laws now requiring businesses to identify and take action to prevent harms that may lead to poor mental health outcomes, the pressure is on for organisations to take a proactive approach to workplace safety.

‍

Dr. Angie Montgomery, a psychologist with a passion for prevention, has developed a digital tool that will make it easier for organisations to understand and address the prevalence of behavioural and systemic issues that lead to psychological injury. The tool uses a workplace psychosocial hazard assessment to assess how organisations measure up against the new regulations.

‍

“The data is analysed by looking at different characteristics and demographic variables,” Montgomery explains. “Hypothetically, if you are getting a high level of bullying and harassment, we can analyse that by gender or any other attribute. You can start to see what demographic variables are leading to a spike in those results and who is experiencing it and not experiencing it.”

‍

Montgomery believes that the new requirements will require a “big mind shift” for many organisations and not all will be able to manage the transition easily. “For many organisations this would seem like a mammoth and quite overwhelming task,” she says.

‍

However, with her digital tool, Montgomery has made the process significantly easier to navigate. Developed in collaboration with two business partners, the tool uses machine learning technology to collect data, do analysis, and make recommendations about how to take preventative action. It is also scalable, meaning it can be adopted and ramped up rapidly and used across different states, or even internationally, as demand requires.

‍

By making psychological knowledge more accessible through her company, InCheq, Montgomery has addressed a crucial need for many organisations. Without easy access to psychological knowledge, it would be difficult for them to meet the new standards. Furthermore, she believes that there are not enough psychologists with the knowledge of psychological safety in the workplace to meet the need.

‍

Ultimately, Montgomery's digital tool aims to help organisations prevent the harm that may lead to poor mental health outcomes. By identifying and addressing behavioural and systemic issues, businesses can create a safer and more supportive workplace environment.

‍Want to find out how harnessing the power of psychological knowledge can transform your workplace? Get in touch with our team to learn more about how the InCheq platform can create a safer and more supportive environment for your employees.