Research role heating up
A James Cook University public health lecturer has received a major award for her efforts in disastermanagement research.
Hannah Mason received an Office of the InspectorGeneral of Emergency Management 2024 International Women’s Day Award for playing an important role in a research project examining how heatwaves impacted the delivery of health services.
Garnering global attention, the work looks at the impact heatwaves are having on health services, including ambulance responses, emergency departments, hospital admissions and deaths.
More recently research findings have impacted government policy and responses to heatwaves in
Queensland.
Ms Mason, a public health lecturer and research officer, said that there were numerous examples of fantastic female leaders and fellow researchers from JCU to look up to on her journey so it was great to be recognised as someone who is making a difference.
“It’s really empowering to have received this award and I believe it is a reflection and recognition of the achievements of women working in this space.”
She said her heatwave research involved Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Health, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation to ensure findings from the work are practical.