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Associate Professor Sharron O'Neill

Associate Professor Sharron O'Neill

Associate Professor

Academic qualifications

  • Bachelor of Commerce, major: accounting,ÌýUniversity of Western Sydney 1993
  • Master of Commerce (Honours), in management accounting, University of New South Wales 2003. Supervisor: Prof. W.F. Chua. 2003
  • PhD,Ìýcorporate accountability for work health and safety (WHS),ÌýRMIT University. Supervisor: Prof. C. Deegan 2010

Professional qualifications

  • CPA Australia program 1996
  • Australian Institute of Company Directors course 2017

Professional affiliations and memberships

  • CA, Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand
  • GAICD, Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Australian Institute of Health and Safety
  • NSCA Foundation (National Safety Council of Australia)
UNSW Canberra
School of Business

Dr Sharron O'Neill is an Associate Professor of Accounting in the School of Business at UNSW, Canberra.

Sharron'sÌýresearch examines the design, measurement and reporting ofÌýperformance measuresÌýfor operational decision-making, governanceÌýand accountability. She has particular expertise in non-financial indicators of work health and safety (WHS) and advises government, investors and industry (executives and Boards)Ìýon WHS performance measurement and reporting. SharronÌýleads collaborative research projects that bring the accounting and safety professions together with industry, government and academia and has been chief investigator on funded research projects totalling over $1,656,200 and has published her research in publications including journal articles, industry research reports andÌýmedia and delivered keynote and invited conference presentations at more than 70 academic and industry conferences in Australian and Internationally.

Sharron's research has contributed to global policy debate and reform on the measurement and reporting of WHS performance through roles includingÌýChairÌýof the Global Reporting Initiative's international GRI403 project working group,Ìýthe Queensland Government's safety leadership expert reference group (2018), the ACT Government's Work Safety Council (ministerial appointee 2017-2019)Ìýand the evaluation working group of the National Mental Health Commission's National Workplace Initiative.Ìý

Sharron currently teachesÌýintroductory financial and management accounting at postgraduate and undergraduate levels, and the postgraduate elective, leadership of safe and healthy work. She has previously taught advanced accounting, accounting theory, research methods and issues in corporate social responsibility. Her academic research and teaching is underpinned by financial accounting industry experience gained in manufacturing, transport and healthcare sectors, as well as academic and professional accounting qualificationsÌýand a PhD in corporate accountability for work health and safety (WHS). SharronÌýis a member of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), Australian Institute of Company Directors (´¡±õ°ä¶Ù),Ìý³Ù³ó±ð Australian Institute of Health and SafetyÌý(AIHS) and the National Safety Council of Australia (NSCA).

Expertise:Ìý developing performanceÌýindicators to support WHS due diligence; performance management, governance and assurance of WHS and other employment relations issues.
Phone
+61 2 5114 5673
E-mail
sharron.oneill@unsw.edu.au
Location
Building 27, Room 217, School of Business, UNSW Canberra
  • Book Chapters | 2021
    O'Neill S; Rooney J, 2021, 'Performance measures for governance systems', in Blackman D (ed.), Handbook on Performance Management in the Public Sector, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham UK, pp. 55 - 71
  • Journal articles | 2023
    Bentley T; Onnis LA; Vassiley A; Farr-Wharton B; Caponecchia C; Andrew C; O’Neill S; De Almeida Neto A; Huron V; Green N, 2023, 'A systematic review of literature on occupational health and safety interventions for older workers', Ergonomics, 66, pp. 1968 - 1983,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Farr-Wharton B; Bentley T; Onnis LA; Caponecchia C; Neto ADA; O’Neill S; Andrew C; O'Neill S, 2023, 'Older Worker-Orientated Human Resource Practices, Wellbeing and Leave Intentions: A Conservation of Resources Approach for Ageing Workforces', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20, pp. 1 - 13,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Thornthwaite L; O’Neill S, 2023, 'Regulating HRM: the limits of regulatory pluralism', International Journal of Human Resource Management, 34, pp. 1471 - 1499,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Cheng TC; Caponecchia C; O'Neill S, 2022, 'Workplace safety and future and emerging ways of work: A systematic literature review', Safety Science, 155,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Thornthwaite L; O'Neill S, 2019, 'Mobilising evidence in public policy: The contribution of the evidence provider', Australian Journal of Public Administration, 78, pp. 137 - 154,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Long JC; Debono D; Williams R; Salisbury E; O'Neill S; Eykman E; Butler J; Rawson R; Phan-Thien KC; Thompson SR; Braithwaite J; Chin M; Taylor N, 2018, 'Using behaviour change and implementation science to address low referral rates in oncology', BMC Health Services Research, 18, pp. 904,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Markey R; Ferris S; McIvor J; Thornthwaite L; Wright CF; Muhidin S; O'Neill S; Parr N, 2016, 'Extending employment entitlements to non-standard workers: Alternative models for long service leave portability', Journal of Industrial Relations, 58, pp. 46 - 68,
    Journal articles | 2016
    O'Neill S; Flanagan J; Clarke K, 2016, 'Safewash! Risk attenuation and the (Mis)reporting of corporate safety performance to investors', Safety Science, 83, pp. 114 - 130,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Taylor N; Long JC; Debono D; Williams R; Salisbury E; O'Neill S; Eykman E; Braithwaite J; Chin M, 2016, 'Achieving behaviour change for detection of Lynch syndrome using the Theoretical Domains Framework Implementation (TDFI) approach: A study protocol', BMC Health Services Research, 16, pp. 89,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Holley S; Thornthwaite L; Markey R; O'Neill S, 2015, 'NSW Workers' Compensation Reform: A Parody of Evidence-based Policy Making', Australian Journal of Public Administration, 74, pp. 151 - 161,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Holley S; Thornthwaite L; O'Neill S; Markey R, 2015, 'Reforming a complex system: the case of NSW workers' compensation and return to work', LABOUR & INDUSTRY-A JOURNAL OF THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF WORK, 25, pp. 85 - 99,
    Journal articles | 2015
    O'Neill SM; McDonald G; Deegan CM, 2015, 'Lost in translation: Institutionalised logic and the problematisation of accounting for injury', Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, 28, pp. 180 - 209,
    Journal articles | 2014
    O'Neill SM; Wolfe, K, 2014, 'Officers' due diligence: Is work health and safety an accounting problem?', Journal of Health and Safety Research and Practice, 6, pp. 15 - 21,
    Journal articles | 2012
    Clarke KJ; Flanagan J; O'Neill S, 2012, 'Success in winning Australian Research Council grants as a measure of comparative professionalized disciplinary research activity', Pacific Accounting Review, 24, pp. 51 - 79,
    Journal articles | 2011
    Clarke KJ; Flanagan J; O'Neill S, 2011, 'Winning ARC grants: comparing accounting with other commerce-related disciplines', Accounting Research Journal, 24, pp. 213 - 244
    Journal articles | 2005
    Clarke KJ, 2005, 'Is the Environmental Professional... an Accountant?', Greener Management International, 49, pp. 110 - 125,
  • Reports | 2022
    Bentley T; Onnis L-A; Vassiley A; Andrew C; Farr-Warton B; Caponecchia C; O'Neill S; de Almeida Neto A, 2022, The Healthy Older Worker (HOW) Toolkit,
    Reports | 2022
    Bentley T; Onnis LA; Vassiley A; Andrew C; Farr-Wharton B; Caponecchia C; O'Neill S; de Almeida Neto A, 2022, Development and Evaluation of the Healthy Older Worker (HOW) Toolkit.
    Reports | 2022
    Bentley T; Onnis LA; Vassiley A; Andrew C; Farr-Wharton B; Caponecchia C; O'Neill S; de Almeida Neto A, 2022, Participatory organisational intervention design: Developing the Healthy Older Worker (HOW) Toolkit.
    Reports | 2022
    Caponecchia C; Huron V; Mayland E; Green N; Gopaldasani V; Manca D; Jokic T; O'Neill S; Coman R; Onnis LA; Farr-Warton B; Bentley T, 2022, Developing competencies in work re-design for improved mental health using the Psychosocial Hazard Work Re-design tool (PHReD-T)
    Reports | 2022
    Caponecchia C; Mayland E; Bentley T; Farr-Warton B; Coman R; Gopaldasani V; Jokic T; Manca D; O'Neill S; Huron V; Onnis L-A; Green N, 2022, Psychosocial Hazard Work Re-Design Tool (PHReD-T), NSW Centre for Work Health and Safety, Sydney,
    Reports | 2022
    O'Neill S; Glennie M; Farmer J; Caponecchia C; Blackman D; McDermott V; Huron V; Rooney J, 2022, Measuring for a mentally healthy workplace: a practical guide for small business and sole traders, National Mental Health Commission, Sydney, NSW, 2, ,
    Reports | 2022
    O'Neill S; Glennie M; Farmer J; Caponecchia C; McDermott V; Blackman D; Rooney J; Huron V, 2022, Measuring for a mentally healthy workplace: a practical guide for medium to large organisations, ,
    Conference Presentations | 2022
    O'Neill S; Kurt W; Emma S; Scott P, 2022, 'The evolution of safety measurement frameworks', presented at AIHS National Health and Safety Conference, Melbourne Vic, 25 May 2022 - 26 May 2022,
    Conference Presentations | 2022
    O'Neill S, 2022, 'Measuring for mentally healthier work', presented at Work Well 365, Brisbane, 29 November 2022 - 29 November 2022,
    Reports | 2021
    Bentley T; Caponecchia C; Onnis L-A; Farr-Wharton B; Vassiley A; O'Neill S; Andrew C; De Almeida Neto A; Huron V, 2021, The Healthy Older Worker: A Systematic Review of Literature on Work Health and Safety Interventions for Older Workers
    Reports | 2021
    Caponecchia C; Mayland E; Huron V; Onnis L-A; Coman R; O'Neill S; Nguyen H; Gopaldasani V; Manca D; Jokic T; Bentley T, 2021, Managing mental health at work: A systematic review of interventions
    Reports | 2021
    Farr-Wharton B; Bentley T; Onnis LA; Caponecchia C; De Almeida Neto A; O'Neill S; Andrew C, 2021, A quantitative study on the relationship between workplace factors, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) and psychosocial risk (PSR) in older New South Wales-based workers.
    Conference Presentations | 2021
    O'Neill S, 2021, 'WHS Data:', presented at (Inaugural) National MSD Conference, Brisbane (virtual ink), 01 June 2021 - 03 June 2021,
    Reports | 2021
    2021, Facilitators, motivators and barriers to improved management of psychosocial risks at work
    Conference Presentations | 2020
    O'Neill S, 2020, 'Informing WHS decisions', presented at Australian Nurses and Midwives Association Annual Conference, Melbourne VIC, 13 November 2020 - 13 November 2020
    Reports | 2020
    O'Neill S, 2020, Measuring and Reporting WHS Information, NSW Government, Sydney, ,
    Reports | 2019
    O'Neill S; Miller P; Cao Y; Potter R, 2019, Building the Intellectual Capital of Business Leaders Through Executive Peer-to-Peer Safety Networks
    Conference Presentations | 2019
    O'Neill S, 2019, 'Accountants - the hidden key to better health and safety performance', presented at CAANZ Public Sector Forum, National Press Club, 16 Barton Circuit, Canberra, 24 May 2019 - 24 May 2019
    Conference Presentations | 2019
    O'Neill S, 2019, 'Evaluating WHS Risk', presented at ACT Government, Audit and Risk Management Committee Forum, CPA Australia, Canberra, 05 September 2019 - 05 September 2019
    Conference Presentations | 2019
    O'Neill S, 2019, 'Informing Health and Safety Leadership', presented at Health and Safety Month Conference, Work Safe Victoria, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, I Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, Melbourne, Victoria, 3006, Australia, 30 October 2019 - 30 October 2019
    Conference Presentations | 2019
    O'Neill S, 2019, 'Measurement and reporting of WHS performance', presented at ORCHSE Asia Pacific Health, Safety and Environment Forum, Sydney, 17 July 2019 - 19 July 2019
    Conference Presentations | 2018
    O'Neill S; Thornthwaite L, 2018, 'Constructing silence on health and safety: The case of road freight transport workers', presented at 6th Precarious employment and vulnerable workers conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 31 January 2018 - 01 February 2018,
    Reports | 2018
    O'Neill S; Thornthwaite L, 2018, Submission to NSW Govt. StaySafe Committee - Inquiry into heavy vehicle safety and the use of technology to improve road safety, UNSW & MQU. March (10pp)., NSW Government, Sydney,
    Conference Presentations | 2018
    O'Neill S, 2018, 'GRI403: The New Global (OHS Reporting) Standard', presented at Safety Forum, Mecure Sydney International Airport, Sydney, 25 September 2018 - 26 September 2018,
    Conference Presentations | 2018
    O'Neill S, 2018, 'WHS Reporting', presented at SafeWork NSW - Musculoskeletal Disorder Symposium, Sydney, Australia, 08 November 2018 - 09 November 2018,
    Conference Presentations | 2018
    Thornthwaite L; O'Neill S, 2018, 'Employee silence when regulatory voice mechanisms exist: bullying, retribution and truck driver safety', presented at AIRAANZ 2018, Adelaide, Australia, 07 February 2018 - 09 February 2018,
    Reports | 2017
    Morris S; Rice T; O'Neill S; Raets E; Fairbank B, 2017, Misdiagnosed, misunderstood and missing out: Lynch Syndrome, Australia's untold health story, Lynch Syndrome Australia, Brisbane, ,
    Conference Presentations | 2017
    O'Neill S; Thornthwaite L, 2017, 'Owner Driver Remuneration and Road Safety: New Survey Evidence', presented at AIRAANZ 2017, Canberra, Australia, 08 February 2017 - 10 February 2017,
    Conference Presentations | 2017
    O'Neill S, 2017, 'Driving WHS Performance', presented at Injury Prevention and Return to Work, Brisbane, Australia, 19 October 2017 - 19 October 2017,
    Conference Presentations | 2017
    O'Neill S, 2017, 'How the choice of lead and lag KPIs influence WHS outcomes', presented at Injury Prevention and Management, Brisbane (3 Aug), Mackay (15 Aug), Townsville (29 Aug), 03 August 2017 - 29 August 2017,
    Conference Presentations | 2017
    O'Neill S, 2017, 'Measuring to improve supply chain WHS performance', presented at Supply Chain Forum, Cairns (16 Aug), Rockhampton (30 Aug), Roma (5 Sept), 16 August 2017 - 05 September 2018,
    Reports | 2017
    O'Neill SM; Wolfe K, 2017, Informing Officers' Decisions: A guide to reporting on WHS performance, UNSW Canberra, Canberra,
    Reports | 2017
    O'Neill SM; Wolfe K, 2017, Measuring and reporting on work health and safety, Safe Work Australia, Canberra, ,
    Conference Presentations | 2017
    Thornthwaite L; O'Neill S, 2017, 'Challenges in Supply Chain Regulation: WHS in the road freight transport sector', presented at Fifth Regulating for Decent Work, Geneva, Switzerland, 03 July 2017 - 05 July 2017,
    Reports | 2017
    Thornthwaite L; O'Neill SM, 2017, Evaluating approaches to regulating WHS in the Australian road freight transport industry, Transport Education, Audit, Compliance, Health Organisation (TEACHO) Ltd., Sydney, NSW, Final Report, ,
    Reports | 2017
    Thornthwaite L; O'Neill SM, 2017, Regulating the Work Health and Safety of Australian Road Freight Transport Drivers, Transport Education, Audit, Compliance, Health Organisation (TEACHO) Ltd., Sydney NSW, Summary,
    Reports | 2015
    Markey R; Holley S; Thornthwaite L; O'Neill SM, 2015, The impact on injured workers of changes to NSW workers' compensation: Report 3, Unions NSW, Sydney, July 6 2012- November 2015, ,
    Reports | 2015
    O'Neill SM; Wolfe K; Holley S, 2015, Performance measurement, incentives and organisational culture: implications for leading safe and healthy work, Safe Work Australia, Canberra, 4/4,
    Reports | 2014
    Markey R; Holley S; O'Neill S; Thornthwaite L, 2014, Submission to Statutory Review of the NSW Workers' Compensation Scheme, Centre for International Economics
    Reports | 2014
    Markey R; Holley S; Thornthwaite L; O'Neill SM, 2014, The Impact on Injured Workers of Changes to NSW Workers’ Compensation: June 2012 Legislative Amendments, Report 2, Unions NSW, Sydney, 2,
    Reports | 2014
    Martinov-Bennie N; O'Neill SM; Cheung A, 2014, Issues in the Assurance and Verification of WHS Information, Safe Work Australia, Canberra, 2/4,
    Reports | 2014
    O'Neill SM, 2014, The business case for safe, healthy and productive work: Implications for resource allocation, Safe Work Australia, Canberra, 3/4,
    Reports | 2013
    Markey R; Ferris S; Kyng T; Lavermicocca C; Muhidin S; O'Neill SM; Parr N; Thornthwaite L; Wright C, 2013, The Case for a National Portable Long Service Leave Scheme in Australia, The McKell Institute,
    Reports | 2013
    Markey R; Holley S; O'Neill SM; Thornthwaite L, 2013, The Impact on Injured Workers of Changes to NSW Workers’ Compensation: June 2012 Legislative Amendments, Macquarie University, Sydney, 1, ,
    Reports | 2013
    O'Neill SM; Martinov-Bennie N; Cheung A, 2013, Issues in the Measurement and Reporting of Work Health and Safety Performance, Safe Work Australia, Canberra, 1,
    Reports | 2012
    O'Neill S, 2012, Submission to the Joint Select Committee on NSW Workers' Compensation Scheme, NSW Parliament. May, ,
    Theses / Dissertations | 2010
    O'Neill SM, 2010, Accounting for lost time: examining corporate accountability to stakeholders for occupational health and safety,
    Theses / Dissertations | 2003
    O'Neill SM, 2003, A Study of the Effect of Organisational Visibility and Environmental Impact on the Adoption of Risk Management Strategy
  • Media | 2019
    Thornthwaite L; O'Neill S, 2019, Better by Design, New Zealand,
    Media | 2016
    O'Neill S; Taylor N, 2016, Lynch syndrome explainer: a common cancer risk few have heard of, The Conversation, ,
    Media | 2015
    O'Neill S, 2015, Officers need good data, Safeguard, Auckland, New Zealand
    Media | 2014
    O'Neill S; Holley S, 2014, Workers’ comp needs real reform, not ‘red tape’ fiddling, The Conversation,
    Media | 2014
    O'Neill S, 2014, Getting serious about the 'chain of responsibility', Informit,
    Media | 2014
    O'Neill S, 2014, Pushing it up the chain: why big business can't ignore truck safety, The Conversation,

Research income for funded research projects on which Sharron is/was lead orÌýchief investigator since 2012ÌýexceedsÌý $1,653,637.
°Õ³ó¾±²õÌý¾±²Ô³¦±ô³Ü»å±ð²õ $956,131Ìýin research funding for projects 2019-2023 ($667,531 to UNSW).

Ìý Current funded research projects include,

  • Lead: WHS Measurement Evidence Review (AIHS)
  • CI: Strengthening the priority of WHS for business leaders (Centre for Workplace Health & Safety, NSW Government)
  • CI: Public Sector Accountability (, School of Business, UNSW Canberra)

Ìý Funded research projects completed:Ìý

  • 2022 CI: Mentally Healthy Workplaces (Centre for Workplace Health & Safety, NSW Government)
  • 2022 CI: Healthy Older Worker (HOW) Toolkit (, NSW Government)
  • 2021 Lead: Measures to support mentally healthy workplaces (, National Mental Health Commission)
  • 2020 Lead: Measuring and Reporting Guide ()
  • 2019 Lead: Developing Executives' Intellectual Capital through Peer to Peer Networks (, Australian Govt.)
  • 2019 CI: Assessing the Wellbeing System (UNSW & Australian Government)
  • 2017 Lead: Testing and Evaluating WHS Guidelines (Safe Work Australia, CAANZ, SIA)
  • 2017 Joint lead: Evaluating Approaches to Regulating WHS in the Road Transport Industry (TEACHO Ltd)
  • 2017 CI: Achieving Behaviour Change for the Prevention & Management of Lynch Syndrome (Cancer Institute NSW)
  • 2016 Lead: The Role of Accounting in Work Health and Safety Governance (CPA Australia, Safe Work Australia, Safety Institute of Australia, Macquarie University)
  • 2016 CI: Investigating perceptions of Chain of responsibility requirements (National Heavy Vehicle Regulator)
  • 2015 CI: Impact of NSW Workers' Compensation Legislation Reforms (Unions NSW)
  • 2013 CI: National disability insurance (Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University)
  • 2012 CI: National portable long service leave (McKell Institute)

Research awards: Ìý

2014: Faculty of Business & Economics Research Impact Excellence Award. Macquarie University.

2014: Vice Chancellors Research Excellence Award (FBE) - Highly Commended. Macquarie University.

2014: United Nations - Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), Academic-Investor network conference, ÌýBest Paper Award - Highly commended.

Ìý

Teaching awards:

2004: College of Law and Business, Individual Teaching Excellence Award. Western Sydney University.

2003: Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award, Highly Commended. Western Sydney University.

Ìý

University service award:

2003: Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards – Excellence in Social Justice, Commended. Western Sydney University.

Ìý

Current

  • Evaluation working group, National Workplace Initiative, National Mental Health Commission

Previous

  • Chair, GRI403 working group, Global Reporting Initiative (2016-2018)
  • Ministerial appointee, ACT Work Safety Council, ACT Government (2017-2019)
  • Judging panel, WHS Award, Australasian Reporting Awards (2014-2018)
  • Invited member, Supply chain reference group, Office of Industrial Relations, QLD Government (2016)
  • Invited member, Research grant assessment panel, WorkCover NSW, NSW Government (2015)

Ìý Ìý Ìý >70 speaking engagements for the accounting profession, WHS profession, industry and Government

Ìý

My Research Supervision

Current: 3ÌýPhD students
Completions: 4 PhD students, 1 MPhil student

Examinations:Ìý1 MCom(hons) thesis andÌý3 PhD theses.

Ìý

My Teaching

Postgraduate program
Ìý ÌýZBUS8108: Accounting and Financial ManagementÌý Ìý

Ìý ÌýZBUS8114: Leadership of Safe and Healthy Work

Executive education
Ìý ÌýMeasuring and Reporting on Work Health and Safety

Ìý