Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) workers are essential to operations, and Liontown acknowledges the substantial research that confirms the negative impact that psychosocial factors from FIFO work can have on both mental health and wellbeing. To drive further progress in this area, Liontown continued collaboration in FY25 with Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) Mental Awareness, Respect, and Safety (MARS) Centre and the broader MARS program, aiming to specifically understand the underlying factor of ‘team belongingness’ and its relationship with wellbeing for FIFO workers. In FY25, Liontown has implemented recommended actions from the first MARS program study in FY24, and continue to support this research, undertaking a second study, again at Liontown’s Kathleen Valley site.

The unique demands of remote mine work, specifically the isolation and extended time away from family experienced by FIFO workers, can significantly impact mental wellbeing. To better understand how we can best support our teams onsite, in FY24, Liontown partnered with the ECU MARS Centre by inviting their research team to the Kathleen Valley Lithium Operation. Overall, 72 surveys and 52 interviews were conducted with employees and contractors during this time. The study provided insight to the key relationship between team belongingness and employee wellbeing, finding that team belongingness provided individuals on site with a sense of family, support, and humour, which improves wellbeing and overall mental health.

To implement findings and support team belongingness, in FY25, Liontown has engaged with more strengthening initiatives such as collective fitness classes, ‘paint and sip’ evenings and other team events.

In February of 2025, Liontown continued working with the ECU MARS Centre and conducted a second study at Kathleen Valley, and in March, collected the same data at Liontown’s corporate office with a successful response rate of 76% achieved. This research focused particularly on the relationship between team belongingness, laughter and banter for FIFO workers’ wellbeing – important aspects identified in the first study. To assess changes in employee experiences during the day, comparative surveys were implemented, with employees completing surveys during pre-start meetings and after their shift. The ECU team presented preliminary results during their site visit and are currently analysing the survey data collected.

The research with the ECU MARS Centre has also inspired their development of the Better Together Platform. The platform will facilitate the collection of data at both the site and team level. As well as comparison, the collected data will result in the generation of targeted recommendations to drive better wellbeing outcomes. Furthermore, when a site engages with the survey several times, they will be able to compare their results to evaluate their progress over time.

Once the Better Together Platform has collected data from multiple WA mine sites, it will generate industry benchmarking data. This will work to strengthen the efforts to address psychosocial safety, and promote collaboration and cooperation between mine sites, bringing the mining industry closer together to support the wellbeing of all workers. The platform will therefore not just assist Liontown, but all mining companies in measuring, monitoring, and enhancing psychosocial safety.

Liontown intends to engage with the Better Together Platform and continue collaborating with the ECU MARS Centre so that Liontown is able to offer more targeted services and events and continuously support the wellbeing of our people.