International Consortium on Occupational Resilience (ICOR)

ICOR is an international research consortium, with the primary objective to advance the understanding of factors impacting on occupational resilience within multiple occupational groups.

These occupational groups include but are not limited to, health care workers (nurses, midwives, doctors, allied health, administrative and operational staff), teachers and first-responders. Empirical research studies are being conducted by researchers from multiple universities across Australia and internationally.

Brain graphic with cogs

ICOR objectives

  • Provide evidence to employees, employers, industrial organisations, higher education providers and other key stakeholders on the factors that impact on occupational resilience.
  • Undertake testing and refinement of the HSWERM model’s applicability in nursing and other disciplines.
  • Undertake psychometric testing of the STARS and SPNWE tools in nursing and other environments.
  • Evaluate the Mindful Self-Care Resiliency (MSCR) program and the associated Train-the-Trainer program for acceptability, feasibility, effectiveness and sustainability.
  • Provide a cost benefit analysis of the factors impacting on the ability of employees to build and maintain resilience within the occupational environment.

Upcoming activities

  • COVID-19 research, with a focus on:
    1. Nurse, midwife and paramedic academic staff’s perceptions of the impact of the pandemic on their working life. Investigators include members from University of Technology Sydney, Central Queensland University, The University of Adelaide, Curtin University, Murdoch University in Australia and Surry University and Stirling University in the United Kingdom. Contact: Dr Janie Brown, Curtin University.
    2. The impact of the pandemic on the resilience and well-being of nurses and midwives who are front-line workers during the pandemic. Investigators include: University of Technology Sydney, Central Queensland University, The University of Adelaide, Curtin University, Murdoch University in Australia, Hong Kong Polytechnical University, and Surry University and Stirling University in the United Kingdom. Contact: Dr Janie Brown, Curtin University
  • Newcomer research focusing on retention, resilience and well-being within the first three years of entering nursing and midwifery.
    1. Individual and environmental factors that influence longevity of newcomers to nursing and midwifery. Contact: Ms Tanya Capper, CQUniversity
    2. Interviews with nurses in first three years around coping. Contact: Dr Helen Donovan, Queensland University of Technology
    3. PhD candidate surveying new graduates well being in rural and metropolitan settings. Contact: Professor Clare Rees, Curtin University.
  • Future proofing the nursing workforce. Contact: Clare Harvey, Massey University
  • Exploring the meaning of resilience in personal and community health for First Nations peoples. Contact: Amy-Louise Byrne, CQ University

Partners and external collaborations

  • Central Queensland University
  • Massey University
  • Hong Kong Polytechnic
  • Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Australian Maritime Safety Authority
  • CentacareCQ
  • DSTO
  • Gold Coast Primary Health Care Network
  • Organisations in rail, aviation, mining, maritime, primary industries
  • Qld Health
  • SafeWork SA
  • Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth