Support revolutionary research for work health and safety in the Australian construction industry.
SHINe brings together industry leaders and experienced academics who are committed to driving innovation and improvements in safety, health and wellbeing research in Australia’s construction industry through research.
SHINe is a forum where we:
Tax deductible industry donations to SHINe are used to fund research that directly improves the health, safety and wellbeing of construction workers.
All of our research is made freely available to anyone who wants to access and use it.
Government partners can also be part of the network and contribute to the research program.
Members can participate in research and test new ideas and solutions in their workplaces.
Members democratically select the research projects that we do.
Established as a giving circle, the SHINe fund is generously funded by our industry member donations. A giving circle brings a group of people with shared values together to collectively discuss and decide where to make a pooled gift. A giving circle supports through donations, but also help build awareness, volunteer, and more. We established SHINe under this model so we can multiply our impact and accelerate the change we want to see in the construction industry.
Given the significance of the cause to the Australian construction industry, we welcome engagement with and financial contributions from government bodies.
* RMIT University is a registered charity with the ACNC and endorsed by the Australian Tax Office as Deductible Gift Recipient. RMIT University can accept income tax deductible donations from individuals, corporations, trusts and foundations. All philanthropic gifts received are held in the RMIT Philanthropic Fund which is managed by the RMIT Philanthropic Fund Committee in accordance with the University's legislative and policy requirements.
Construction is a high-risk industry in which workers’ safety, health and wellbeing must be carefully and effectively managed.
Research can provide a critical evidence-based to help construction organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that the strategies they implement are likely to produce the best possible outcomes. However, it is vital that research efforts target issues that are the most important to industry.
In SHINe, we work with construction organisations to identify, develop and deliver research projects that are deemed by our members to address the industry’s most urgent and challenging work safety, health and wellbeing issues.
SHINe members help to decide which projects will be funded and are actively engaged in the delivery of selected projects. This model of collaboration ensures that SHINe members have the earliest access to new knowledge that is created, and can put this into practice to produce measurable change in their organisations.
SHINe is built on 20+ years of RMIT’s excellence in the field of construction work safety, health and wellbeing research. SHINe represents a new way of partnering with organisations in order to deliver more impactful research outcomes on a larger scale. SHINe members contribute to a program of rigorous scientific research with the potential to benefit the whole construction sector.
This whole-of-industry benefit will be realised through a collaborative delivery model founded on the principle that all knowledge created will be shared at no cost to industry end-users.
In SHINe, we are also working collaboratively with the University of Colorado’s Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA), who are a Foundation Research Partner of SHINe. This collaboration supports joint-research activities, knowledge sharing and the exchange of staff, students and industry collaborators between Australia and the USA.
Helen started her post-doctoral career working on-site in large scale civil engineering infrastructure projects (including the Hong Kong International Airport). Since moving to Australia, Helen has worked with clients in the mining, telecommunications and construction sectors to develop, implement and evaluate initiatives to improve workers’ safety, health and wellbeing. Helen’s research has been funded by a wide variety of private and public sector organisations, industry associations and trade unions. In 2009 Helen was an inaugural recipient of a prestigious Australian Research Council Future Fellowship and her recent book, titled ‘Work Health and Wellbeing in the Construction Industry,’ was published by Routledge in 2023. Since 2018, Helen has been academic lead and member of the Culture in Construction Taskforce, comprising the Australian Constructors Association and the Governments of New South Wales and Victoria. The Taskforce was established to address three key issues affecting the productivity of the Australian construction industry: gender diversity; health and wellbeing; and time for life.
Daniel is responsible for planning and executing initiatives that promote the growth and operation of SHINe. With construction industry experience, and an MBA completed in 2022 concentrating on social impact, Daniel leverages his advanced understanding to drive the SHINe Program in its early stages.
In addition to his work with SHINe, Daniel manages the Employer of Choice Program at the School of Property, Construction, and Project Management. By bridging the gap between academia and industry, he helps ensure that educational and research activities remain relevant to the current state of the industry.
Daniel's skills in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and program development are critical in advancing SHINe’s objectives and driving meaningful impact, while also fostering valuable connections within the construction sector.
Rita holds a PhD in Construction Management from the University of Hong Kong, where her thesis won the Grand Prize in Outstanding Dissertation/Thesis Awards for Postgraduate Students by The Hong Kong Institution of Surveyors (HKIS). Prior to pursuing her academic career, Rita worked as an Assistant Engineer for China Overseas Holding Limited in Hong Kong (SAR). Since joining RMIT, Rita has actively engaged with industry in undertaking research that has practical implications. Her work has explored various aspects of work health and safety in construction, including the effect of organisational culture and leadership on work health and safety, the development of an integrated supply chain approach to WHS and consideration of ways to improve health and safety for young workers. Rita is currently leading a project, funded by SafeWork NSW, into the management of work health and safety in subcontracting arrangements. Rita is also an Editorial Board Member for the Scimago Q1 Journal of Management in Engineering by American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
Dr. Payam Pirzadeh is a civil engineer and a researcher. Prior to his academic role, Payam worked on major infrastructure projects involving the design and construction of large processioning facilities in the energy and mining sectors. He is a member of the Institute of Engineers Australia and has also completed a Master of Applied Science in Project Management. Payam received two prestigious awards for his doctoral research on construction safety: (i) the RMIT Prize for Research Excellence (HDR-Design); and (ii) the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Research Award. Payam has undertaken extensive applied research, in collaboration with private and public sector construction organisations, on the topics of safety in design, measuring and managing health and safety performance, job quality and mental health, and improving the construction industry culture to support workers’ health and wellbeing. Payam is a chief investigator in the ARC Research Hub for Human-Robot Teaming for Sustainable and Resilient Construction (administered by UTS).
Michelle’s doctoral studies explored the work-life interaction of construction workers in different family and life stages. Together with her Ph.D., Michelle has qualifications in psychology and project management. Prior to her academic role, Michelle worked in industry across multiple sectors in senior project management, business planning, and strategic planning roles.
Michelle’s research focuses on occupational health and wellbeing in the construction industry with a particular emphasis on job design and the work environment. Michelle’s research has been funded by professional bodies, government, and construction organisations both nationally and internationally. Her recent book, ‘Work Health and Wellbeing in the Construction Industry,’ was published by Routledge in 2023 and draws on over a decade of her research. Outcomes of Michelle’s research have informed industry and organisational policies and standards both nationally and internationally. Michelle is an affiliated faculty member of the Myers-Lawson School of Construction at Virginia Tech, USA.
Associate Professor David Oswald has over 50 peer-reviewed publications on health, safety and well-being within construction and the built environment, including award-winning safety research in leading construction journals and conferences.
His work has focused on topics such as safety leadership, safety communication, safety reporting, safety indicators, and safety at the frontline.
He is an expert in undertaking ethnographic construction research, recently leading a co-edited book titled: Embracing Ethnography: Doing Contextualised Construction Research. Within the construction industry, he has experience on various projects, including within the H&S department of a A$2B infrastructure project.
Dr. Chenjunyan (Yan) Sun completed her PhD in 2023 at Queensland University of Technology, focusing on mental health in the construction industry. Her PhD research identified key psychosocial hazards critical to improving mental health in the construction industry through Bayesian network modelling. Yan has expertise in solving research problems through qualitative and quantitative methods. Previous research has examined psychosocial hazards, job characteristics, mental health, need for recovery, work design, and safety hazards in the construction industry. Since joining RMIT, Yan’s research has focused on understanding the impact of working time arrangements on waged and salaried construction workers’ health and wellbeing.
Dr. Jack Clarke completed his PhD in 2020 at Monash University, focusing on the evolution of video-based communication and social media. With a background in media and journalism, Jack has extensive experience as a published writer in arts journalism, investigative news, and academic publications.
At RMIT, Jack plays a pivotal role in the Construction Work Health and Safety Research group. He leads the design, creation, and evaluation of interactive training videos that simulate various workplace scenarios, offering a novel approach to work health, safety, and wellbeing training.
In addition to his primary responsibilities, Jack conducts and transcribes interviews, facilitates focus groups and industry trials, and handles graphic design for industry reports and infographics. His skills also extend to video editing and social media management, contributing to a comprehensive approach in advancing work health and safety research.
Katy was nominated for The University of Melbourne Chancellor's Prize for Excellence (2023/2024) for her doctoral research in the field of social anthropology. Her areas of expertise include gender relations, organisational identity, and group formation. Since joining RMIT, Katy has undertaken research into the effect of implementing a Culture in Construction initiative at five pilot construction projects and recently commenced working on a project examining the impacts of workplace banter on the health and wellbeing of women working in site-based roles in construction projects.
Janet holds a PhD in Construction Management from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Her PhD research focused on improving mental health within the construction industry. Having worked on building construction projects, including a 23-hectare housing estate in Abuja, Janet is passionate about project delivery and the wellbeing of construction workers. Janet has contributed to grant-winning proposals and led groundbreaking research projects. Her academic contributions include developing industry guidelines for safe drone operations and publishing journal articles on mental health, job redesign and sleep management in construction. Janet is a corporate member of the Nigerian Institute of Building, an applicant member of the Chartered Institute of Building and an affiliate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Industry donates into the SHINe fund
All members of the network have the opportunity to suggest ideas and topics for potential research by RMIT. SHINe members then decide on which projects to support.
Monies are then allocated from the fund to support the selected research projects. Industry donors are invited to participate in projects if there is opportunity.
Research results are shared with the construction industry and wider community driving real world impact.
Engage in a thriving network of like-minded professionals who are committed to driving innovation and improvement
Propose exciting research ideas and topics
Engage directly with thought leaders and researchers working in construction work safety, health and wellbeing
Be part of making the change you want to see in the construction industry
“The Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA) is thrilled to partner with SHINe. With global leaders in construction work health and safety research and an innovative model of industry collaboration, SHINe is positioned to transform how research is conducted and translated to practice. SHINe and the CSRA are collaborating to integrate industry and academia, explore relevant and innovative topics, and transcend geographical boundaries. Together, we aim to prevent serious injuries and fatalities, and enhance health and wellbeing of the workforce.”
Dr. Matthew Hallowell – Executive Director, CSRA, University of Colorado
Distinguished Prof. Helen Lingard
Director, Construction Work Health and Safety Research @ RMIT
RMIT University, Melbourne
E: helen.lingard@rmit.edu.au
P: 03 9925 3449
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.
