Staff Profile

Career Summary

Qualifications

• PhD (Community Medicine & Clinical Epidemiology), University of Newcastle, 07/03/2012
• Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours), University of Newcastle, 14/12/2000
• Graduate Certificate Practice of Tertiary Teaching, University of Newcastle, 12/12/2005
• Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety, University of Newcastle, 02/12/1999

Research

Research keywords

• Age related driver safety
• Nurse related safety
• Occupational Epidemiology
• Occupational Health & Safety
• Occupational Rehabilitation of injured workers
• Safety Intervention Effectiveness
• Sharps including needlestick injuries
• Systematic Literature Reviews

Research expertise

Research expertise has developed through education and participation in a number of projects including:

1. Honours Student 2000

I undertook a Cancer Incidence and Mortality Study for my Honours minor thesis.

2. Phd Fellow 2002 - current

I was a member of the Study of Health Outcomes in Aircraft Maintenance Personnel (SHOAMP) team based at the Centre of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics funded on a competitive tender of $1.8 mil through TUNRA for the Australian Department of Defence. My role in the team has been:

• Phd fellow,
• Coordinating assessment of military and civilian exposures;
• Organisation of the Exposure Assessment Workshop
• Assisting with the literature review;
• Assisting with the Cancer Incidence & Mortality Study (analysis of comparison with the Australian Population and writing of report); and
• Analysis and writing-up of the neurological outcomes for the General Health and Medical Study.

3. Systematic Review of Effect of Hours of Work on Performance and Safety

I successfully tendered for this systematic review for the National Occupational Health & Safety Commission (NOHSC). My role was study co-ordinator, co-ordinating five researchers and one research assistant to complete the project. The project value was $68,000.

4. Hydro Aluminium Ageing Workforce Study

I am currently co-ordinating a study for Hydro Aluminium investigating workplace health and safety and their ageing workforce. The project value is $20,000.

5. 2007 WorkCover NSW Assist Applied research grants

I have recently been successful in gaining two research grants in collaboration with registered employee and employer associations. Both projects are in the field of Occupational Health and Safety Research. The projects are due to commence in June 2007. The projects are:

i. Needlestick and sharps injuries among NSW nurses ($96,000)

ii. Markers on loads. Do safe handling prompts change behaviour? ($40,000)

These projects have develop my skills as a researcher, in research project co-ordination, and negotiating

Fields of Research

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Member - Australian Epidemiological Association

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Occupational Epidemiology
• Occupational Health
• Occupational Health & Safety
• Questionnaire Design
• Research Methods for OH&S
• Safety Intervention Effectiveness
• Systematic Literature Reviews
• Workplace Health & Safety

Teaching expertise

Since 2002 I have been employed at the University of Newcastle on a Permanent, Fractional and Casual basis as a Lecturer for the Discipline of Environmental & Occupational Health servicing the following programs:

• Bachelor of Occupational Health & Safety (on-campus);
• Bachelor of Environment, Occupational Health & Safety (off-campus lecturing in Singapore); and
• Postgraduate programs in Occupational Health & Safety (by distance learning).

In undertaking these duties I have been responsible for:

• Lecturing;
• Facilitating distance learning; and
• Mentoring group work with final year undergraduate students.

My practical experience is complemented by my successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in the Practice of Tertiary Teaching in 2005.