Black lung disease in spotlight at new research centre

JUNE 30, 2016: I joined the Minister for Northern Australia Matt Canavan at today's launch of an Occupational Health and Safety Research Centre focusing on work-related health issues. The Centre aims to reduce the incidence of death, illness and injury, including black lung disease.The Occupational Health and Safety Research Centre will provide cutting edge research and innovation capacity which will focus on illnesses, injuries and deaths in key regional industries, like the resources and agriculture industry.Mackay, as a coal mining centre, and as a hub for the mining services industry, is the right location for such an endeavour.I am pleased to hear from Associate Professor David Farlow, James Cook University Clinical Dean, that black lung disease is one critical issue this Centre could focus on.   The Centre could also provide governance oversight of any recommendations arising from the Senate Inquiry into black lung.Senator Canavan said the Centre would be housed in the James Cook University/Mackay Base Hospital Education and Research Centre.“I understand it will provide a platform for Mackay’s participation in the Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre (TAAHC), a new research partnership between the five northern Hospital and Health services, the Northern Queensland Primary Health Care Network, James Cook University, and the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine.“The Coalition is committed to developing northern Australia and it is vital that we meet the health challenges presented by work in industries operating in an often hot and sometimes less-than-friendly environment.”Associate Professor Farlow explained that the Centre at Mackay will be supported by and link to the research capacity and capability of all of TAAHC partner organisations.  Each individual site benefits from the combined strength of all.“Ultimately, the Centre will develop into the Mackay Institute of Research and Innovation which will have a broader range of research priorities such as health service delivery redesign, workforce redesign, productivity and patient safety,” Assoc Prof Farlow said.In 2014 the Australian Government, through the Australian Research Council, provided $42 million to fund the establishment of the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) at James Cook University.$1.5 million of this funding has been allocated to establish occupational health research capacity in the Mackay Base Hospital precinct.