ECU has won a multi-million-dollar State Government partnership to help improve safety and wellbeing in the mining sector.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) will take a leading role in improving safety and wellbeing in WA’s mining sector, with the announcement of a multimillion-dollar partnership with the State Government.
The three-year initiative will see the creation of a new Professorial Chair in Mining Work Health and Safety at ECU's School of Business and Law, who will oversee significant research and education offerings.
ECU and the WA Government will each provide $1 million per year, while support in-kind and from industry will see close to $11 million dedicated to the project.
ECU Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve Chapman said the University was strategically aligned to the State Government's Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) program goals of creating mentally health workplaces, building a culture of safety and respect, and addressing safety in the future mining sector.
"Hosting the Professorial Chair in Mining Work Health and Safety at ECU's high-impact School of Business and Law provides an advantageous platform to affect positive change in WA's mining sector," Professor Chapman said.
"Indeed, its impressive record of funded projects and scholarly publications to date, including research conducted with relevant mining and state government organisations, commend it as the ideal environment to house the Professorial Chair in Mining Work Health and Safety and associated curriculum and research activities."
Crucial research and education
Under the leadership of the new Professorial Chair in Mining Work Health and Safety, ECU will deliver research aimed at improving the health, safety and wellbeing of workers and others in WA's mining industry, including academics from ECU's School of Medical and Health Sciences and School of Arts and Humanities.
It will also offer a suite of educational offerings, including a program targeting middle and senior managers in WA's mining sector in order to build key capability to drive sector change.
School of Business and Law Executive Dean Professor Maryam Omari said the School is best placed to advance MARS curriculum, research and engagement aims in Western Australia.
"The School aims to impact policy and organisational practice to promote positive mental health and organisational wellbeing," she said.
Professor Maryam Omari.
"Its research themes include psychosocial risks and workplace mental health; workplace bullying; harassment and discrimination; new ways of working and the future of work; diversity and inclusion; workplace interventions; and career wellbeing."
Professor Omari said the School has already spearheaded a number of research and industry engagement-informed initiatives, such as its Graduate Certificate in People and Culture, and Graduate Diploma of Leadership in Healthcare.
"These degrees were made in partnership with industry and include cutting-edge units such as 'diversity and inclusion', 'healthy work and wellbeing', and 'people analytics' – units developed by our engaged researchers and educators," Professor Omari said.
Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston said ECU was the ideal partner as the State Government commits to its MARS program.
"I would like to congratulate ECU on their successful application to host the new Professorial Chair in Mining Work Health and Safety," he said.
"ECU's application reflected a strong desire to host the Professorial Chair in alignment with the MARS Program's well-defined objectives."
