CQUniversity OHS students travelled from as far afield as Singapore to attend a four-day residential school in Rockhampton recently. They were left with lasting impressions thanks to a presentation by Alan Newey, who shared his experiences following a horrific work injury.

Event organiser Elise Crawford said the school gave second-year OHS students the chance to be assessed on a range of practical skills.

Guest speaker Alan Newey shows OHS students a prosthetic limb

"Students conducted risk assessments, performed workplace inspections at various local businesses, delivered oral presentations and facilitated learning experiences on various OHS topics," Ms Crawford said.

"The students collaborated in groups, worked together in teams, and individually took advantage of forming new connections and relationships to strengthen their OHS professional practice networks.

OHS student Stevie Tucker checks for hazards

"This year, a special event was organised for the first evening. Alan Newey from chatsafety.com.au was invited to present his personal story on ‘the human side of safety'.

"It was my hope that Alan's story would help to inspire the students to strive for best-practice in their current and future OHS professions, which I believe it has."

Ms Crawford said a pizza reception enabled students to meet the guest speaker while networking with representatives from the participating local businesses.

"The four Rockhampton businesses which engaged with CQUniversity this year were: Rockhampton City Council, B & J Car Sales, the Little Zebra Childcare Centre and Boral Asphalt Plant. These partnerships with our local businesses are important because they enhance the students' learning experience by providing real work environments, by which students can learn about the risks to health and safety in a variety of settings, in a very real and meaningful way."

Team 13 wins top marks - Kerry Story, Leanne Smith, Donella Swanton and Stevie Tucker 
Students facilitate learning experiences: Sam Faulker tapes Kerry Story's fingers together, to emphasise the importance of hand safety 
L-R Alan Newey (Presenter), Mick Huestis (Regional OHS Manager - Boral Construction Materials), Mark Harriss (student), and Michelle Dalzell (OHS Officer at Boral Asphalt - Rockhampton) 
OHS student Ben Matthews inspecting electrical tagging and testing 
Team work - left to right: Lachlan Wong, Andrew Luhrs and Sandra Wylie 
Alan Newey (presenter) and Sandra Wylie (student)

OHS students pictured on campus - left to right: Andrew Luhrs and Lachlan Wong

Ben Matthews (OHS student) handles the prosthetic arm