Karen Williams, WH&S Coorindator at Colab Facade talks about mental health in the industry and why it matters.
“We’re in a dangerous situation every day,” says Karen Williams.
But she’s not talking about her former life as a Muay Thai fighter where she became the first ever woman to box in Australia and landing her name in the history books.
Karen now works as WH&S Coordinator with Colab Facade onsite at the Queens Wharf project in Brisbane CBD. Karen and Colab are proud to Fly the Flag for MATES this Thursday 9 September.
“My attitude towards mental health support in the industry is that it needs to be there, it needs to be readily available,” said Karen.
“Workers in our industry are in a dangerous situation every day, and I’ve seen how it can take a toll on the mental health of workers. Whether we’re on site, whether we’re not, the support needs to be readily available. I’d love to see counsellors onsite. If someone’s having a bad day, they’ve got someone there that they can go and talk to.”
But Karen is also a firm supporter of the ‘mates looking out for mates’ approach.
“We have that in our team here. I love this industry, I love the job, I love the people. Between us and our guys, we are the eyes in the back of each other’s heads. All I can say is that we just need more and more people in the industry a little more trained to see and understand the signs, and to be there to back their fellow workers,” Karen said.
“People need to be a little more trained to see the signs and to understand the signs. And to be there and back their fellow workers. Just get amongst it.”
“Because at the end of the day, we wanna take our boots off where we put ‘em on at the start of the day. Everybody has the right to take them boots off at home,” she said.
