Rate My Professor Laura Fruhen

Fruhen's research specializations lie in organisational psychology, encompassing leadership, team dynamics, work design, organisational culture, attitudes at work, workplace safety, mental health, and wellbeing, particularly in high-risk sectors such as energy, mining, aviation, healthcare, construction, and firefighting. She also investigates traffic psychology, specifically car driver and cyclist interactions, perceptions of norms, and behavioral antecedents. Key publications include 'Skills, knowledge and senior managers' demonstrations of safety commitment' (Safety Science, 2014), 'Chronic unease for safety in senior managers: an interview study of its components, behaviours and consequences' (2016), 'The attributes of effective safety storytelling: measurement and conceptual advancement' (Safety Science, 2025), 'Home and away: personal autonomy limitation in the liminal work context of fly-in-fly-out camps and psychological distress' (Community, Work and Family, 2024), and 'Leader safety storytelling: A qualitative analysis of the attributes of effective safety storytelling and its outcomes' (Safety Science, 2024). She has received funding from sources including the Australian Research Council, Mental Health Commission of Western Australia, and industry partners like Shell and Monadelphous. Notable awards include the School of Psychological Science Early-Career Research Award in 2022. Her work has informed Australia's first Code of Practice on mental health at work for FIFO workers, contributed to workshops, white papers, and presentations for industry and government, and aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 8. Fruhen has taught courses such as Teamwork (PSYC 5518) and maintains active involvement in grants like the ARC Research Hub for Fire Resilience Infrastructure.