Built on Experience, Driven by Purpose
At Construct Psychology, we’re more than a service provider. We’re your partner in tackling the challenges unique to the construction, waste management, and mining industries.
Founded by Zijad Skenderovic, and Dr Selma Music, we bring a unique and powerful combination of practical knowledge, psychological expertise, and neuroscience insights from cutting-edge brain research.
Zijad understands the high stakes and pressures your teams face daily. As a registered builder, having over 16 years of practical experience working in the industry, he’s witnessed a significant reduction in people’s mental health on worksites due to tight deadlines, long hours, and cultural challenges impacting on productivity and morale. Zijad is now studying psychology to design a forward thinking approach in Construct Psychology to support employees, guide leaders, and unify teams.
Selma brings deep expertise in trauma recovery and relational dynamics enriched by her background as a psychologist and and knowledge from cutting-edge brain research. She combines principles from evidence-based neuroscience research to design practical solutions that not only make workplaces safer, but also build stronger, more connected teams.
Together, we offer tailored, effective approaches that resonate with leaders and teams alike.
We’re here to support safer, stronger, and more mentally resilient workplaces.
Meet Zijad
At Construct Psychology, we don’t just understand the industry from the outside. We’ve lived it. With over 16 years as a registered builder, Zijad knows firsthand the pressures that weigh on construction, waste management, and mining teams. He has seen how the relentless push for deadlines, the grind of long shifts, and the clash of workplace cultures can slowly wear people down. Stress turns into burnout. Fatigue turns into mistakes. And too often, the toll on mental health goes unnoticed until it affects safety, performance, and retention.
This lived perspective is at the heart of Construct Psychology. Zijad has stood on the worksite when tensions rise, when a crew is stretched thin, when morale is low and yet the job has to get done. To strengthen this foundation, he has pursued formal training: a Diploma of Building and Construction, registration as a builder, a Diploma of Mental Health, and now a Bachelor of Health Science (Psychology and Psychophysiology). By combining industry expertise with insights from psychology and neuroscience, he is shaping a forward-thinking approach to workplace wellbeing in high-stakes industries.
This unique blend means Construct Psychology speaks the language of both the builder and the behavioural sciences. We understand the pressures leaders face when managing teams under the pump. We understand what it feels like for employees who can’t afford to “switch off.” And we understand how cultural differences on site can create friction if not handled with respect.
Our mission is to bridge these worlds: to support employees before stress becomes crisis, to guide leaders in creating safer, more respectful environments, and to unify teams so they can do their best work without sacrificing their wellbeing.
Meet Selma
Here, at Construct Psychology, we know that the challenges on site aren’t just about bricks, steel, and schedules. They are also about people. Selma brings deep expertise in trauma recovery and relational dynamics, enriched by more than 20 years in the mental health field as a clinical psychologist, neuroscientist, and trauma educator. She has seen how unresolved stress, poor communication, and fractured relationships can erode even the most skilled teams, leaving leaders frustrated and employees burnt out.
Selma’s strength lies in translating cutting-edge brain and trauma research into practical strategies that work in real workplaces. She focuses on building psychological safety, strengthening communication, and equipping leaders and employees with tools to manage conflict before it escalates. This means workplaces not only reduce risk, but also foster stronger trust, resilience, and connection; essential qualities in industries where pressure is high and mistakes come at a cost.
Selma’s background in clinical practice, research, and education means she brings both scientific rigour and real-world insight. At Construct Psychology, she applies this knowledge to help leaders and employees alike navigate the human side of construction, waste management, and mining, ensuring teams can thrive without sacrificing wellbeing.
Her qualifications (Bachelor of Science (Psychology & Psychophysiology); Postgraduate Diploma (Psychology); PhD (Clinical Psychology) and experience reflect this commitment. Selma has led clinical practices, conducted neuroscience research, developed and taught education programs that make complex psychological concepts easy to apply on the ground. At Construct Psychology, she uses this knowledge to design forward-thinking solutions that align with industry needs while prioritising people’s wellbeing.
This unique expertise complements Zijad’s lived experience as a registered builder. Together, they create a partnership that bridges the gap between industry and mental health, blending insider knowledge of worksites with evidence-based strategies from psychology and neuroscience.
Our Mission
To create safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces by improving safety, communication, and team strength across construction, waste management, and mining industries.
Our Values
Integrity: Transparency and ethical practices are at the heart of everything we do, building trust across all levels of your organisation.
Safety: We are committed to creating workplaces where psychological and physical safety are equally prioritised.
Respect: From management to ground crews, we champion mutual respect in every interaction to foster unity and collaboration.
At Construct Psychology, we’re here to help you build more than just projects. We’re here to help you build stronger teams, healthier environments, and a better future for the industry.
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