Australian bus operator Transit Systems has launched a new leadership initiative to improve safety, service reliability and operational excellence.
Transit Systems has launched a tailored program – Safety Leadership – Ignite Pathway – to provide a customised and targeted initiative that extends frontline leadership capability, strengthens safety culture, manages risk, drives safer outcomes and fosters better workforce wellbeing across its operations.
The Safety Leadership – Ignite Pathway builds on continued investment in safety systems, leadership capability and operational excellence.
The pathway focuses on equipping frontline leaders to actively communicate with impact and support their teams across increasingly complex and demanding operating environments.
The pilot commenced within Transit Systems Victoria in April, followed by Transit Systems NSW in May, as part of a disciplined, phased rollout designed to support quality, consistency and operational integration.
Transit Systems executive general manager, people, safety and communications Tanya Smith, says the Safety Leadership Academy provides a structured framework to strengthen leadership capability across all levels of the organisation.
“Safety is fundamental to how we operate, and we recognise that under Chain of Responsibility laws, accountability for safe outcomes extends well beyond the driver to everyone involved in our operations,” Smith says.
“We continue to invest in leadership capability to ensure our systems and obligations are consistently translated into safe, effective behaviours on the ground. In today’s operating environment, this means equipping our leaders to understand how factors such as environment, workload, fatigue and external pressures can influence behaviour and decision-making – and to actively manage those risks.
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“The Safety Leadership – Ignite Pathway further strengthens our people’s ability to engage and positively influence their teams – creating environments where people feel confident to speak up, act early, and make safe, informed decisions.”
The pathway has been co-developed in partnership with HSE Global and tailored specifically for Transit Systems to ensure strong operational relevance. Delivered through a phased learning experience, it is designed to build capability over time through practical application and learning in the flow of work.
This approach enables leaders to progressively apply learning on the job, strengthening their skills, capability, confidence and tools to operationalise safety leadership in day-to-day practice.
HSE Global lead facilitator Mark Haley says the program is helping Transit Systems leaders better understand the link between safety and everyday behaviour, not just rules and procedures.
“Participants have told us the training has made them reflect on how they show up as leaders, and that it’s about much more than simply telling people what to do,” Haley says.
“Because the training reflects their day-to-day work, we’re seeing them approach situations differently, with a stronger focus on how behaviours influence safe outcomes.”
Transit Systems Victoria managing director George Konstantopoulos says it’s been great to see the team take on the Safety Leadership – Ignite Pathway pilot program and build on their individual and collective leadership skills.
“We’re proud to watch them now apply the training in practical ways across day-to-day operations and it is incredibly rewarding, knowing it ultimately flows through to safer, more reliable services for the communities we serve,” he says.
Transit Systems CEO Michael McGee opened the introductory session, reinforcing the importance of frontline leadership in delivering and operating safe, reliable services for the team and customers.
“By continually reviewing and raising performance standards across our operations and the industry, we better serve our partners and the community, while developing the transport leaders of tomorrow,” he says.
Insights from the Victorian and NSW pilots will inform ongoing refinement and support broader implementation across operations, with a continued focus on strengthening leadership capability, supporting workforce wellbeing and delivering safe, reliable transport services.
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