Ups and Downs - Occupational Health in Australia

Introduction
Australia is a large country with a small population of 22 million. It has five states and two territories. All jurisdictions are responsible for formulating their own occupational health laws, standards and enforcement. In 1985 Commonwealth laws (applicable to the whole country) established a National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety under a National Commission for the same subject (nicknamed Worksafe Australia). The Institute existed from 1986 to the late 1990's.

Methods
A summary of the main activities of the National Commission and Institute is appended. These included the new Master of Occupational Health and Safety degree (delivered through the University of Sydney), codes of practice for important dusts, chemicals and atmospheric pollutants, training workshops in the different jurisdictions, and cooperative schemes with neighbouring countries, and several research projects.

Results
During the period 1986 to 2000, over 600 students from Australia and abroad obtained the Master of Occupational Health and Safety, Doctor of Philosophy degrees, or trained by short courses in Occupational Hygiene and Occupational Medicine. In addition, short 3 to 5 day courses provided training in priority subjects for about 2000 occupational health and safety personnel in different parts of Australia.

Discussion
There is a gross disparity between the dozen or so years where there was a National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety and since its abolition. As former Acting Director and Director of its Educational Programme, I have drawn up arguments for its urgent re-establishment.