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Mt Isa. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland
7 May 2014
On 7 May Dr Lesley van Schoubroeck spoke at a seminar on fatigue and mental health in mining hosted by Mines Commissioner Stewart Bell and organised by the Queensland Mining Health Improvement and Awareness Committee.
The seminar was an opportunity for mining employers to:
- Gain an understanding of current issues impacting the mining, exploration, and quarrying sectors from a variety of perspectives
- Hear from a broad range of respected professionals, representing researchers, industry leaders and expert advisors
- Identify the key fatigue issues affecting you and influence future developments for the mining, exploration and quarrying sectors
- Have input on the HIAC Mental Health Toolkit for Mining & Quarrying.
Dr van Schoubroeck talked about the relationship between mental health and the workplace, highlighting that mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety often have the greatest impact during the prime working years and offering suggested areas of development for workplace solutions including:
- Job control, sensible working hours, reasonable workload
- Leadership, morale and communication
- Mental health policies and programs
- Employee consultation and involvement
- Relationships with peers.
Presenters at the event also included:
- Dr Jennifer Bowers (Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health)
- Robyn Considine (ACARP Mental Health project lead, University of Newcastle)
- Dr Naomi Rogers (University of Sydney)
- Liam Wilson (Rio Tinto Coal Australia)
- Professor Lee Di Milia (Central Queensland University).
