Mackay

Mackay

The Mackay facility of the AITHM is embedded into the JCU medical education unit at the Mackay Base Hospital, beautifully situated adjacent to the river. Our offices are located upstairs in the Education and Research Building. AITHM – situated on the top floor of building K.

Situated within the Mackay Base Hospital grounds, with adjacent river setting

Mackay is the coal mining supply centre for the Queensland coal mining industry, which is due to the proximity with many of Central Queensland’s major mines. In addition, sugar cane farming is the agricultural industry that Mackay was founded on and continues to dominate the regional agricultural arena. 

Varied industries make the Occupational Health and Safety research and development program an exciting and vital part of our economic and social landscape. 

One of the projects under development stage is the Resource Centre of Excellence with a local research component for the coal mining industry. The center is planned to incorporate an underground mining simulated facility. It has received $3.6 million in funding from State Government and its major partners are the Resource Industry Network and the Mackay Regional Council.

A project of more global significance applies advanced digital human modelling to the assessment of skin cancer risk; and will inform the relevant Australian Standards about protective clothing.

A partnership between the OHS team and the Rehabilitation Engineering Centre of Queensland looks into the prevention of pressure injuries in wheelchair users using advanced biomechanical methods.   A state of the art pressure indenter simulation facility has been developed and will be used to provide quicker and improved solutions to the mobility impaired.  

OHS team leader Associate Professor Paul is a world expert on OHS issues and as such has been an instructive part of many national and international organizations.  One of his current projects is contributing and editing a compendium about Digital Human Modelling and Posturography, with over 60 world leading authors contributing to the Elsevier book. He is also conducting a Cochrane Review into the effectiveness of prevention for Coal Mining Lung Disease, also known as Black Lung Disease.