Residents in Rockhampton, Gladstone and Mackay will be randomly surveyed by phone for a new 'scoping study' of health and shiftwork by CQUniversity's Institute for Health and Social Science Research.

This project will give residents the chance to help researchers learn more about the impacts of shiftwork on health, wellbeing and family life.

Image courtesy Queensland Resources Council

The survey seeks to explore key issues at a population level, with a view to later expanding the project and developing tailored interventions to address the health and social issues associated with shiftwork.

The survey will utilise the expertise of a number of IHSSR researchers, led by Professor Lee Di Milia and consisting of staff from the Centre for Physical Activity Studies, Health and Human Services, gambling studies and the mental health area.  

Professor Di Milia sees the project as being particularly relevant and timely in to our region.

"We've seen a big increase of shiftworking due to the booming resource sector in CQ, along with the many professions that have always used shiftwork, like drivers, nurses and the like," Professor Di Milia says.

"With this increase in shiftwork there is a need to understand the implications at an individual level so that we can come up with ways to improve health outcomes.

"There has been plenty of research done at the organisational level, but much less on personal factors that contribute to shiftwork tolerance.

"The scoping survey will be pivotal in helping us understand more about the physical and psychosocial factors that need to be addressed in order to minimise the negative effects of shiftwork."

This survey of Central Queensland residents will be carried out by a team of telephone interviewers from the Rockhampton-based Population Research Laboratory (PRL) at the Institute for Health and Social Science Research.

PRL Manager Christine Hanley urges the residents to take the time to respond to the call, saying; "we will be speaking to both shiftworkers and non-shiftworkers for this study so that we have comparable data".

"We'll be asking about things like sleep, physical activity, nutrition, family time, work satisfaction and overall health and wellbeing," Ms Hanley says.

"Participation by residents who are randomly selected to take part in the survey is really important as this will help us get an accurate picture of what's going on in the region. The survey is a great way for people to get involved and ensure that the health and wellbeing of workers in CQ is not overlooked."

For more information about the project please contact Professor Lee Di Milia via 07 4923 2745 or V.DiMilia@cqu.edu.au

Residents wishing to discuss the survey can contact Christine Hanley of the Population Research Laboratory via 07 4930 6335 or c.hanley@cqu.edu.au