A statement posted to the commission’s website said Lourey had “reshaped the conversation about mental health” over a 40-year career in health and mental health planning in state and commonwealth government.
“Catherine is looking forward to this new phase to follow her passions and spend time with her family,nurturing her garden and travelling,” the statement said.
SafeWork NSW confirmed it was conducting inquiries into the commission,the stage before a formal investigation.
A spokesman could not provide detail while inquiries were ongoing,but psychological safety in the workplace was a key focus for the regulator. SafeWork NSW has not identified any individuals as being the subject of its inquiries.
The investigation came after theHeraldspoke to several current and former employees following the commission’s disastrous result in the public sector “people matters” survey,in which only 38 per cent of its staff recommended it as a great place to work,down from 74 per cent in 2016 and 2017.
The benchmark for the NSW public service is 63 per cent.
One staff member said at the time:“There is a joke amongst employees that if you didn’t have a mental health condition before working there,you will after,and sadly in most cases this is true,[as I’ve] seen many people destroyed by their experiences at the commission.”