PROFILE
Dr Joseph Carpini
Started at UWA: 2014
Management and Organisations
Dr Joseph Carpini is a lecturer of Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour at the UWA Business School. His research focuses on individual performance and mental health at work with a particular focus on the healthcare sector.
Dr Carpini’s passion for his field emerged from his early studies in psychology while working full time in a movie theatre. Learning about the psychology of people at work combined with his lived experience fueled a lifelong passion.
One in five (20%) of working-aged adults experience poor mental health in any given year and up to 50% experience a mental health-related issue in their lifetime.
Mental health is defined as a ‘state of wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her own potential … [and] can work productively’ (World Health Organisation, 2020).
Poor mental health, that is when wellbeing is undermined, is associated with serious consequences including diminished productivity, and increased levels of both absenteeism and presenteeism. Addressing poor mental health in the workplace has been described as a ‘Grand Challenge’. Dr Carpini is passionate about making the workplace a better place for everyone, “via evidence-based practice through both my own research and vicariously through the students I have the privilege of teaching.”
Qualifications
- PhD – Organisational Behavior, The University of Western Australia
- MSc – Management, Concordia University – John Molson School of Business
- BA (Hons) – Psychology, Concordia University
Research Centre
- UWA Space Research Centre
The University of Western Australia Teaching Excellence Award (2020)
Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Education, The University of Western Australia (2020)
Students’ Choice Award, Student Guild, The University of Western Australia (2020)
Lim Kim San Fellowship (2017) Singapore Management University, Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Research Fellowship, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (2014–2017)
Excellence in Teaching Award (Tutor), UWA Business School, The University of Western Australia (2014)
Projects
- Peer Mental Health Workforce Evaluation
- A first of its kind, the present study is examining the experiences of a student peer workforce engaged in a low-barrier mental health intervention at UWA.
- Are you confident in helping someone with a mental health issue?
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In collaboration with Professor Gillian Yeo, this research explores an individual’s confidence in identifying, approaching and assisting someone with a potential mental health issue.
- Unlocking the ‘Black Box’: Effects of psychological demands on performance in OBGYN surgery
- This research explores psychological factors affecting the performance of obstetric and gynaecologic surgeons with an emphasis on their experiences during crises.
- Mental health in the workplace research stream
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Dr Carpini is currently developing a new research stream on mental health in the workplace in collaboration with academics from across the University. This multi-disciplinary research is directed toward understanding factors in the workplace that support or diminish mental health and what interventions can be feasibly introduced to enhance mental health at work.
Examples of work within this stream include:
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based intervention. This research is examining antecedents and consequences of MHFA to improve our understanding of ways to address mental health issues at work.
Organisational leaders
Organisational leaders play a critical role in responding to mental health issues that may manifest in the workplace. This research examines how leaders might influence the trajectory of mental health-related issues of their employees.
Teaching
Dr Carpini currently teaches Human Resource Management (HRMT2237) and Managing Jobs, Performance and Wellbeing (HRMT3345).
“I am a passionate educator who strives to support my students in becoming evidence-based human resource management practitioners who can leverage scientific knowledge to tackle pressing and complex organisational issues.
High-quality engagement from students fuels my passion for teaching. I thoroughly enjoy students who ask questions, share their experiences, help one another learn, and actively pursue their own growth.”
Industry and research collaborators
- Anatomy of Complications Workshop
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Local Government Professionals – Western Australia
- Western Australia Local Government Association
- Health Department – Government of Western Australia
- Fiona Stanley Hospital
- Kaleeya Hospital
- Fremantle Hospital
- King Edward Memorial Hospital
- Monadelphous Group, Ltd
- The Living Room at UWA
Funding
2020–2021
The University of Western Australia Business School – Research Grant
- Mental health assistance self-efficacy (MHASE): Supporting healthy Australian workplaces Research team: Carpini, J.A., & Yeo, G.
2019–2020
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Unlocking the ‘black box’: Effects of psychological demands on performance in OBGYN surgery Research team: Carpini, J.A., & Leung, Y.
2018–2020
Local Government Professionals – Western Australia
- From workplace stress to workplace wellness: Improving individual, organisational and societal outcomes in local government administration
Research team: Timming, A., Carpini, J.A., Notebaert, L., & Talor, J.
Supervisor opportunities
Dr Joseph Carpini is interested in working with students who have established records of research excellence and who are interested in issues surrounding employee mental health, performance and diversity.