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Episode 48: Leading people when the work comes with risk with Josh Corcoran.
What does it actually look like to lead and support people when the work itself comes with risk?
I’m joined by Josh Corcoran, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Business Growth at Calacare in Ballarat, Victoria, to talk about leadership in high pressure environments, emotional intelligence, psychological safety, professional boundaries and men’s mental health.
We talk about the importance of knowing your people, recognising when someone’s behaviour or performance has changed, creating opportunities for staff to reflect and debrief, and making time to check in when someone may be struggling.
We discuss the importance of leaders having their own support networks and people they can turn to when navigating difficult conversations and leadership challenges.
We also explore professional boundaries, including the sometimes slippery slope between being friendly and becoming a friend, particularly for helping professionals working closely with people in their homes and everyday lives.
Finally, Josh speaks openly about his own experiences with mental health, why men’s mental health advocacy is so important to him, his involvement with Movember, and what leaders can do to better recognise and respond when someone in their team may be struggling.
About Josh Corcoran
Josh Corcoran is a people centred leader with experience spanning construction, correctional services and disability support. After more than a decade with the Department of Justice and Community Safety, including six years leading custodial teams, Josh now works as Head of Strategic Partnerships and Business Growth at Calacare in Ballarat, Victoria. He is passionate about psychological safety, staff wellbeing, leadership development and men’s mental health.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Leadership in corrections and other high pressure environments
- Supporting staff when there are risks of physical and psychological harm
- Psychological safety and recognising when staff may be struggling
- Emotional intelligence, communication and vulnerability in leadership
- Having difficult conversations and balancing support with accountability
- Why leaders need their own support, mentors and professional networks
- Professional boundaries for helping professionals and the role of leaders in supporting them
- Men’s mental health, help seeking and recognising signs that someone may not be coping
- Leadership and supporting staff wellbeing across demanding frontline roles.
Connect with Josh:
Email:
josh@calacare.com.au
Find out more about Calacare:
Support Movember:
Josh is a passionate supporter of Movember and shares some of his own experience advocating for men’s mental health in this episode. You can learn more about Movember’s work, get involved in fundraising or make a donation here
Leadership Focus Groups:
At Jazmin Pursell Consulting we are currently taking EOIs from leaders to help inform training around areas including reflective practice, professional boundaries, leader wellbeing and psychosocial safety.
If you’re currently in a leadership role within the helping professions and would like to contribute, I would love to hear from you. Leadership Focus Groups EOI
Work with Jazmin:
Group supervision for practitioners and leaders (new groups beginning in October 2026)
Boundaries as Practitioners online training
Socialise with Jazmin:
Facebook: Jazmin Pursell Consulting
Thank you again to Josh for such an open and thoughtful conversation, and particularly for sharing so generously from both his professional and personal experiences.
If you have enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend of colleague!
See you next week,
Jazmin.
