Chamber CEO on why healthy workplaces are important for productivity

Hear of University of Southern Queensland’s contribution to the health industry at Business at Dusk this week.

Our individual health and the wellness of our workplaces has never had as much attention than in recent times.

Whether that be a focus on physical, mental or infectious diseases.

All, critical to our nation’s wellbeing.

We need healthy workplaces.

It is critical to business productivity and growth.

The business impact of an unhealthy workplace is enormous.

Look at these examples, taken from a 2019 article, which simply outlined the cost of an unwell workplace.

“Sick workers dragging themselves into the office are costing the Australian economy more than $34 billion a year” – ABC News.

“Stress related presenteeism and absenteeism are costing the Australian economy $14.81 billion a year” – Medibank

“The economic cost of physical inactivity, in terms of lost productivity, was estimated at $9.3 billion in 2008” – Medibank and PwC.

How the business community respond to these challenges strategically and day-to-day is, so-so, important.

The health industry in Toowoomba is a big deal.

Health care and social assistance is the largest employer in Toowoomba, with an estimated workforce in excess of 13,000 people or 15.9% of all jobs and growing.

Our university, the University of Southern Queensland, contributes significantly to this important industry with strong capabilities across research and teaching offerings.

USQ undertake health research, work in partnership with industry and offer a diversity of education offerings from nursing to psychology, to the economics of health.

They strive to improve the health and wellbeing of communities, which will ultimately improve wellness in the workplace and increase productivity.

You can hear their contribution and insight on health on Thursday night at Toowoomba’s number one networking event, Business @ Dusk.

A proudly joint initiative between the Toowoomba Chamber and our foundation partner, USQ. You will be able to hear from and ask questions of:

■ Professor Glen Coleman, Executive Dean (Health, Engineering and Sciences), who has research interests including parasitic diseases of companion animals, with a focus on drug resistance, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

■ Professor Lorelle Burton, Head of School (Psychology and Counselling), a multiple national excellence awards winner, author and promoter of community-based learning and wellbeing.

■ Professor Peter Terry, Dean (Graduate Research School), author of over 280 publications, who has worked as a sport psychologist at nine Olympic Games.

Grab your tickets for the next Business @ Dusk, here.

The event is being held on Thursday, January 28, at Refectory, R Block, USQ.

Come along and hear about the incredible work of USQ in health.