Scores of studies about Heath & Workplace issues have been reported in the papers and on the evening news, but a new and different research project underway at Central Queensland University could offer groundbreaking theories on how you view health and well-being issues at your own workplace.

CQU researcher Karen Nelson says the study will provide valuable information that “will hopefully direct workplace health and safety policies and practices affecting anyone with a job” within organisations in Queensland and beyond.

The geographic spread of the study is large, according to Nelson.

“A regional based government agency in Central Queensland is the setting and employees from all work areas, genders and ages will be invited to take part in the research.” The project could take up to 18 months to complete. Approximately 9.8 million Australians over the age of 15 participated in the labour force in Australia in 2000 according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Nelson believes that all workers encounter a complex series of experiences in their working lives , which ultimately impacts their work and perhaps their health and wellbeing.

“No one that I know of has collected the range of data I’m seeking in relation to health and wellbeing at work,” Nelson explains. “I am not only interviewing participants regarding their experiences but also observing events... and facilitating workshops at the research sites.” Nelson’s project is consistent with Central Queensland University’s research goals. “We study issues about our communities for our communities to give back to our communities. Karen and other CQU researchers are doing that right now,” says Mike Donahue, CQU spokesperson.

Nelson, at CQU since 1996, studied human movement science, before joining the Faculty of Business and Law in 2001 to undertake her doctoral studies. Her interest in health and wellbeing in the workplace comes from watching family and friends in their working and home lives and seeing how many of them struggle not only in managing their health, but also in managing their working lives.