OccupatiOnal therapy - Health Sciences - Curtin University

Suzy Retallack
Health and Safety Manager –
East Pilbara Operations – Rio
Tinto Iron Ore
BSc (Psych) (1996), BSc (Curtin)
(2000)
After graduating from occupational therapy, I worked
in the injury management field, consolidating my
occupational therapy skills whist developing a passion
for the resource industry. I then commenced work for
Rio Tinto initially in the health field and quickly became
exposed to hygiene, safety and later environment
disciplines. This was also an opportunity to experience
the challenges associated with a fly in fly out lifestyle.
I have now been working with Rio Tinto for six years
and have been provided with amazing opportunities
to develop my leadership skills and have thoroughly
enjoyed leading teams of professionals in different
product groups.
My current role as a health and safety manager
exposes me to technical, leadership and wider business
challenges. My interest in broadening my management
experience to non technical operational roles has resulted
in me undertaking my MBA through the Curtin Business
School.
My Psychology and Occupational Therapy degrees
provided me with a fantastic grounding from a technical
perspective, however, the more subtle skills you learn as
an OT in communication, team working and counselling
have been invaluable. I am a huge advocate for OTs in
the mining industry and would certainly recommend it
as a challenging but immensely rewarding industry.
www.ot.curtin.edu.au