As part of the broader History of Occupational Medicine Project, the History of Medicine Library has been archiving donated materials related to occupational medicine in Australasia. This initiative aims to preserve valuable documents from occupational physicians about the evolving landscape of industry, work, and employment, work-related conditions of importance and the management of workplace health and safety services in Australia and New Zealand. The Committee was established collaboratively by AFOEM, ANZSOM, and the RACP's Library, Collections, and Cultural Heritage Committee. It is hoped that this project will inspire further historical research initiatives and serve as a model for other specialties seeking to document their own heritage.

It is interesting to note how far the RACP's advocacy for occupational medicine goes back. In 1955, the College produced a report entitled 'Report of Committee Investigating Occupational Health in Australia.' Its terms of reference were "to consider the subject of Occupational Health in Australia, including its place in medical practice and its teaching, investigational and legislative aspects and to make recommendations for its development. It resulted from a memo written by the eminent occupational physician Donald Hunter who had been invited in 1950 to be the William McIlrath Guest Professor at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney.

The RACP became part of Hunter's agenda after Dr. Herbert Schlink of the RPA asked Dr. S. A. Smith (PRACP, 1946-48) if the RACP would consider sponsoring Dr. Hunter's visit beyond the one month period of the appointment at the RPA. The Council of the RACP agreed to co-operate with the RPA and under the aegis of the College, Hunter would deliver three lectures, one in Melbourne ('New ideas on toxicology of metals and compounds') and two in Sydney ('Studies in the metabolism of skeletal diseases' and 'Protection of the worker against occupational diseases'.).

From his eight weeks in Australia, Hunter produced a memorandum which was directed to the Council of the RACP. A sub-committee, consisting of Dr. S. A. Smith, Professor Edward Ford and H. Maynard Rennie, was then formed to consider the memorandum and it was of their opinion 'that there is a definite need in Australia for the preparation of a comprehensive review of the present position regarding diseases of occupational origin'. The Committee on Occupational Health was formed to investigate, resulting in the 1955 report.

One of the things Hunter stressed in his memorandum was the need for uniformity between the states, an age old challenge in the Australian health system. In addition:

"It is necessary to remember that new uses are consistently found for old poisons and therefore all practising doctors must remain alert to the possibility...An awareness of the hazards belonging to various occupations will come about only if Australian medicine takes up the subject energetically...I think that the Royal Australasian College of Physicians has a great opportunity to lead in this field"

Why did the subject become of such interest at that time? World War II had a significant impact on the field as the demand for healthy workers during the war prompted the implementation of occupational health services, especially in factories and mines that were aiding the war effort. The need for collaboration between the states on health and safety issues led to the formation of the Occupational Health Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Committee in 1942. Post-war, these services became an integral part of public health with the Occupational Health Section within the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at the University of Sydney established in 1949.

In the same year in which the RACP produced its report, Hunter published his 'Diseases of Occupation' which became an instant classic.

The History of Occupational Medicine Project Committee will launch its Thematic Analysis of a Witness Seminar – ‘Occupational Medicine – Are we there yet?’ at an event in Perth in October to celebrate 40 years of the Australian College of Occupational Medicine (ACOM) but you can watch the recording of the Witness Ceremony held in 2022 here