Dr Valerie O’Keeffe is helping to introduce advanced technologies that ensure safer workplaces. We caught up with her to ask about the role she plays in  helping workplaces embrace change and thrive.  

What is your role and what does your work focus on?

I’m a human factors and ergonomics specialist in the Australian Industrial Transformation Institute at Tonsley. I bring diverse experience in understanding how people perform and feel about their work to our Innovative Manufacturing CRC (IMCRC) research program, which is working on introducing advanced technologies to manufacturing work. So far, our research has focused on running trials to evaluate how work demands (mental and physical effort, work environment factors) affect people’s performance when work tasks are transformed by technology. With this knowledge, we can support teams and organisations to innovate to meet business goals.

What journey brought you to this point in your career?

I’ve always loved working with people. I started with health sciences degrees in prosthetics, orthotics and rehabilitation, and working as an ambulance volunteer. I moved to occupational rehabilitation and studied the relationship between people and their work. Completing a Master’s degree in ergonomics started my fascination with workplaces and how they tick. I also had a curiosity for why people behave the way they do, which led me to do a PhD in Psychology. All these elements came together with the opportunity to run human factors research at AITI, which contributes to the future of work being healthy, safe and sustainable.

What is something you most love about your work?

I love interacting with people, hearing about their work and their ideas for how it can be improved, and then working together to solve problems and make a positive impact. In my work, this happens through preparing and running research trials, showcasing our work at Pilot Factory of the Future and Digital Transformation Laboratory, and going to sites to analyse work practices. No-one understands work better than the people who do it, so I learn from their perspective. Working together is key to successful outcomes that will be safe, productive and acceptable to the end-users.

What are you most proud of?

I’m very proud of the contribution I’ve made to workplace health and safety at a policy and practice level – both nationally and locally, and especially related to the design of work that harms people through psychological and musculoskeletal injuries. For more than 20 years I’ve worked on policy and research that has informed new legislation for prevention of bullying and psychosocial risks. In June, model legislation for the prevention of psychological harm at work was finally introduced nationally and I continue to work towards its adoption in South Australia.

What should people know about your role?

I’m a researcher and a practitioner in work health and safety and human factors. It’s all about people and designing work to achieve safety, quality and sustainable performance. Safe and satisfying work is productive work that is good for business and the bottom line.

What does a normal day look like for you?

I’m always trying to find information about things I don’t understand – planning, reading, writing, talking to people with different perspectives and trying to come up with new approaches to problems that I need to solve. I’m often running participant trials, presenting research outcomes to tour groups at our labs, analysing data and writing reports.

How do you like to relax?

I love Pilates and exercising outdoors – especially in nature, either in the bush or at the beach (and preferably with birds around). I enjoy eating out, reading books, listening to music, spending time with friends and travelling.