Experience
New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd has been in business since 1986. We have a wealth of experience in facilitating, reviewing, evaluating, researching, training, advising!
New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd is sought after for advice on a wide range of issues related to work organisation, occupational health and safety, organisational change and ergonomics. We specialise in taking a consultative and integrated approach to the review of workplaces and are in demand for this quality. In addition, we seek to add to knowledge in the community through engagement in research, policy development and in the preparation of publications.
To broaden the range of services available, New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd works collaboratively with other respected consultancies and individuals in the same or complementary fields. We have an impressive network of specialist expertise on which we can draw, and we have a history of successful collaboration.
Our services include
- Organisational review
- Program evaluation
- Reviewing work organisation
- Facilitating strategic planning
- Advising on the design of work systems
- Facilitating job and workplace redesign using participatory design methods
- Facilitating workplace communications
- Facilitating the management of change using tools such as search conferences, appreciative inquiry, focus groups, strategic planning, and benchmarking
- Reviewing OH&S systems and legislative compliance
- Advising on physical ergonomics
- Training and education services
The small selection of work outlined below demonstrates the variety of client enterprises and the breadth of projects New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd has been engaged in over the last few years.
Review of 12 key government agencies
In collaboration with two other consultancies, Shaw Idea (Victoria) and Workability (NSW), New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd reviewed the occupational health and safety management of 12 key Government agencies for the Premier's Department of an Australian State. The review was conducted using interviews, focus groups, site visits and document analysis. Although assessment was part of the process, the review was conducted with an improvement focus to help agencies identify where and how their performance might be improved. The agencies found the process and the reporting valuable and have implemented many of the recommendations arising from the review.
Evaluation of the SA WorkCover Research and Education Grants Scheme
This detailed evaluation was conducted for the South Australian WorkCover Corporation by Verna Blewett and colleague, Andrea Shaw of Shaw Idea Pty Ltd. The evaluation required detailed examination of twelve research projects funded by WorkCover. The evaluation method included the design, administration and assessment of questionnaires given to the intended project audiences. In addition, we interviewed those involved in the administration of the scheme and decision making about the scheme, the researchers involved in the selected projects, and the project managers; a process which required significant sensitivity. A written report was made to the WorkCover Board and our recommendations were largely accepted and implemented. Subsequent to this evaluation we participated in a further, internal review about the related Extension Grants Scheme.
Hospital pharmacy
New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd was engaged to conduct an ergonomic assessment of the workflows in the pharmacy of a major public hospital. Verna Blewett conducted the research and data collection, analysed the data, prepared a report and made recommendations about design changes which have been accepted and implemented. The recommendations covered the design and layout of workstations and storage facilities to suit the physical and security needs of staff and to enable improved service delivery, the design of forms and paper flow between the pharmacy, patients and hospital departments to reduce handling and error, and the design of work organisation to improve the internal flow of information and direction within the pharmacy.
Tertiary teaching
The principal of New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd, Dr Verna Blewett has provided teaching services to various Universities for over twelve years. In particular, she devised and taught a special segment on Ergonomics for the Faculty of Architecture, University of Adelaide from 1987-1998. Other teaching includes a problem-based learning segment in ergonomics for dentistry students (1989-ongoing) and guest lecturing about occupational health and safety for a variety of undergraduate and post-graduate programs at each of the universities in South Australia. Verna also tutored in Organisational Behaviour and Organisational Change in the School of Commerce, University of Adelaide. Verna devised a one-semester course for the University of SA's International Graduate School of Management called Advanced Occupational Health and Safety Management that she taught from 2001-2003.
Transport industry
A major transport provider used New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd to provide advice on the development of effective consultative processes within the organisation that would lead to improved participation in and uptake of OH&S. New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd facilitated the development of plans to include OH&S in strategic plans at senior management level and provided training for all supervisors in the organisation. Audits against legislation were conducted at all branches of the enterprise to enable the organisation to begin to assess the activities that needed to be undertaken urgently and to assist the company gain Level 1 against the WorkCover Exempt Employer Standards. New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd provided guidance in the development of policies and processes and mentored worker representatives on the OH&S Committees. The organisation has since gained the highest (Level 3) status.
Large service industry, Northern NSW Region
The management of this group of regional offices of a large enterprise in Northern NSW wished to implement a continuous improvement program in a climate of considerable cynicism. By drawing on the positives of the group, focussing on achievable outcomes and common ground, and by providing a model that they could work within, New Horizon Consulting Pty Ltd was able to facilitate the commencement of several successful projects as the first stage in the overall program.
Manual handling in the construction industry
Verna Blewett was engaged on this WorkCover funded project as a consultant ergonomist. Her tasks included examination of tasks in the field, review of teaching materials, preparation of a new Manual Handling Checklist for use by workers in the field, management of the project, preparation of reports, and presentation of the findings at a conference.
