Elena Rusca

After I finished High School, I started TAFE looking to complete a certificate in Business. Unfortunately, I did not manage to finish this qualification due to my mum passing, and me needing to begin full-time work to help my dad out financially.

I began working in an Administration role in Brisbane, also working part time in Hospitality. I then moved to a Customer Service role for a Transport company and during my time there progressed into other roles such as Service Quality, Rehabilitation Co-Ordinator and was a Health and Safety Representative.

This started my interest in Health & Safety and Injury Management. I commenced a role as QLD Injury Management Coordinator with a Labour Hire Company. The role later became redundant which then gave me the opportunity to evaluate where I wanted to be, which was in Health and Safety. Although I couldn’t find the role I wanted, I found the pathway to the industry I wanted to be in. This pathway opened many other pathways, and opportunities to network with people which then lead to my journey commencing with Qube as a HSE Advisor.

I worked with Qube on a mining operation in Central QLD, before then being given the opportunity to travel to Esperance, Western Australia with Qube. What was supposed to be a 3 month project, turned out to be a relocation to Perth to manage the Health and Safety for 2 sites and later a step up to the role that I’m currently in, which is National HSE Advisor. 

Over the past 6 years at Qube, I have had the honour of not only expanding my experience and knowledge in Health and Safety, but also continuing to learn how each every day, the Transport and Logistics industry ties in with many other industries, such as Mining, Port Operations, and Forestry to name a few.

This role is responsible for assisting in the development and execution of Safety, Health and Environmental strategic and operational plans, managing and driving behavioural safety change across the business, and day to day support and advice to a variety of stakeholder’s.

Part of the HSE role is coordinating a consistent approach to Health, Safety and Environmental risk management across Australian sites, as well as assisting in ensuring sites comply with HSE standards and legal obligations.

The National HSE Advisor leads, mentors and coaches site HSE Advisors, through regular site visits to ensure that the Safety Health and Environmental Management System is being implemented effectively on site.