Melissa Weller is General Manager of Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing across Australia’s road transport, warehousing and logistics industries. Working closely with employers and industry leaders, Melissa helps organisations create healthier, safer and more supportive environments for the people who keep Australia’s supply chains moving.
As warehouses become larger, faster and increasingly automated, workplace design must evolve to support not only operational performance, but also the human experience. We spoke with Melissa about what it currently feels like to work in a typical industrial facility, the design features that can make the greatest difference, and how owners and occupiers can ensure people remain central to the future of industrial real estate.
From an occupier’s perspective, what does it actually feel like to work in a typical warehouse or industrial shed today, and where do you see the biggest opportunities for improvement?
The experience of people working in warehouses and industrial sheds can vary significantly depending on the facility. There are some excellent examples where businesses have invested in environments that genuinely support their people, with natural light, quality break spaces, healthy food options, outdoor green areas, and spaces that encourage social connection.
However, many warehouse environments remain challenging. Employees may spend an entire shift indoors with little or no natural light, working alone on a forklift or in cold storage, and performing repetitive tasks under constant time pressure while maintaining a high level of safety awareness around moving plant and equipment.
The biggest opportunity is to design workplaces that balance productivity with wellbeing. Simple improvements, such as access to daylight, comfortable break areas, outdoor spaces, and opportunities for workers to connect, can make a real difference. For example, something as simple as a 10-minute basketball game at lunch or a walk along a designated outdoor track can improve alertness, encourage physical movement, reduce stress, and create opportunities for social connection. These design features strengthen engagement with colleagues and employers and, ultimately, contribute to better performance, safer workplaces, and improved mental wellbeing.
Which workplace features have the greatest impact on staff wellbeing, safety and job satisfaction in industrial and logistics environments?
Ultimately, people perform at their best when they feel valued. Workplaces designed with the employee in mind don’t just improve wellbeing and job satisfaction; they also strengthen engagement, retention, productivity, and safety performance.
The workplace environment actively shapes mental health, wellbeing, and psychological safety. Just as we design workplaces to minimise physical hazards, we should also design them to reduce psychosocial risks and create environments where people can thrive.
That means creating spaces that are inclusive, accessible, and culturally respectful, while incorporating features that support dignity at work. Good lighting, visibility, and security can help prevent harassment and improve psychological safety. Quality break areas and clean bathroom facilities, spaces for rest and recovery, opportunities for movement and social connection, and access to mental and physical health support all contribute to a healthier, more engaged workforce.
Importantly, workplace facilities send a powerful message about how an organisation values its people. When employees see that their health, comfort, and wellbeing have been considered in the design of their workplace, it builds trust, reinforces a positive safety culture, and strengthens their connection to the organisation.
As warehouses become more automated and technologically advanced, how can owners and occupiers ensure the workplace continues to support the people who work there every day?
The human experience becomes even more important with increased automation. While technology can reduce physical demands and improve productivity and safety, it can also introduce new challenges, including reduced social interaction and uncertainty about changing roles.
The future industrial workplace needs to be designed to support both technology and people. That means ensuring human connection, wellbeing and psychological safety remain central to workplace design, even as automation increases.
Equally important is how organisations manage the introduction of new technology. Change itself is a recognised psychosocial hazard, so workers need to understand why technology is being introduced, how it will improve safety and productivity, and what it means for their role. Clear communication, genuine consultation, quality training, and opportunities to build confidence and capability are essential to gaining buy-in and reducing uncertainty.
When organisations invest as much in supporting people through change as they do in the technology itself, they are far more likely to realise the full benefits of automation while maintaining an engaged, safe, and productive workforce.
At the Industrial Real Estate Summit 2026, Melissa Weller will join the panel, Occupiers – Optimising Workplace Amenities and the Precinct, exploring how better workplace design and amenities can improve workforce wellbeing, strengthen tenant relationships, and enhance long-term asset performance.
Download the Agenda to view details on Melissa’s session and the two-day program.
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