October events
October was a busy month for ASSEA, having the opportunity to attend a number of external events that allowed us to connect with our stakeholders from across the asbestos and silica safety system.
We started with the Healthy Work Conference in Sydney hosted by the Australian Council of Trade Unions where we heard from speakers who presented on best practices and case studies, providing great ideas to accelerate action in creating safer and healthier workplaces. Our CEO Jodie Deakes chaired the Deadly Dust concurrent session and presented on the Asbestos and Silica National Strategic Plans, speaking about how we can work together to deal with asbestos and silica through national coordination. Our exhibition table was also a great place to connect with colleagues throughout the two-day event.
We also partnered with the Department of Health and Aged Care Interim Australian Centre for Disease Control to attend the TSANZ Education Hub Conference in Melbourne and ANZSOM Annual Scientific Meeting in Perth. These events provided us with a unique opportunity to engage with GP’s, occupational physicians, and other health professionals. Working alongside the Department of Health and Aged Care Interim Australian Centre for Disease Control, we got more insight into the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry, and its critical role in managing respiratory diseases caused by occupational dust exposure. Our CEO, Jodie Deakes also presented at both events on the Asbestos and Silica National Strategic Plans, emphasising their importance in guiding Australia’s efforts to combat asbestos-related and silica-related diseases.
We then headed to the picturesque Blue Mountains, for the Asbestos Hazardous Materials and Management Conference. This event was full of informative sessions not only related to asbestos risk management, but also lead and silica. At our exhibition booth we had the opportunity to connect with colleagues from industry and local government and demonstrate our Asbestos Product Guide. Throughout the conference, it was great to observe that prioritised and proactive removal, particularly high-risk materials such as asbestos cement roofs, was a strong emerging theme in most presentations, aligning with the priorities of the Asbestos National Strategic Plan.
We congratulate the organisers of these conferences for hosting successful events and thank them for the opportunities it has given ASSEA to promote our work.
