Sharon Newnam

Professor Sharon Newnam is the Head of the School of Psychology & Counselling at QUT's Faculty of Health and Co-Director of the Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q). Her research focuses on road safety, occupational health, and ergonomics, with a particular emphasis on improving safety for drivers, incident responders, and vulnerable populations in transport sectors. She holds a PhD from QUT and has led projects such as 'Empowering Learner Driver Instructors' and 'Heavy Vehicle Hazard Perception Test' development.

Her research interests span psychosocial hazards in transport, fleet safety interventions, and the health impacts of occupational risks. Recent work includes analyzing mental health among truck drivers and evaluating training programs for high-speed road responders. She has secured national competitive funding, including a 2008 fellowship for nonprofit fleet safety research.

Awards: Recipient of a Nationally Competitive Research Fellowship (2008).

Grants and Projects: Focus on driver safety, health economics of transport, and systems analysis in hazardous work environments. Collaborations include government and industry partners for practical safety solutions.

Labs/Teams: CARRS-Q, where she co-leads multidisciplinary teams addressing road safety challenges through evidence-based interventions.