New Agreement Offers Safety Research Opportunities For Local Students

Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward MP has today announced that SafeWork NSW’s Centre for Work Health and Safety and the University of Wollongong (UOW) have committed to working together to develop work health and safety research expertise in Australia.

Mr Ward said that the Centre and University recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which will provide opportunities for university students and academics to engage in real-world work health and safety research.

“This MOU reflects the NSW Government’s commitment to reducing deaths, serious injuries and illnesses in workplaces,” he said.

“The Centre for Work Health and Safety is a world-class research centre that uses the latest data, research and insights to develop smarter, more innovative solutions to work health and safety challenges.

“This MOU will provide research opportunities to work health and safety specialists, researchers and students.

“I commend the Centre and University for entering into this agreement, and look forward to the outcomes of their research,” Mr Ward said.

UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE said the research collaboration with the Centre would provide outstanding opportunities for researchers and students.

“UOW’s work health and safety program aims to develop professionals who are ready for today’s workplace – equipped to apply evidence-based research to achieve optimum solutions,” he said.

“This collaboration will see the University and the Centre work cooperatively to apply research to real world challenges that will have a positive impact on workers and potentially prevent accidents and help save lives,” Professor Wellings said. 

The Centre is actively seeking relationships with other universities across Australia that will provide work health and safety research opportunities, and will soon sign an MOU with the University of Newcastle.

The $2.5 million Centre for Work Health and Safety was launched in December 2017 with its research blueprint released in March 2018.

For further information on the Centre, please visit the website at: http://www.centreforwhs.nsw.gov.au/.