From manning a surface-to-air missile from atop a ship, to gathering classified intelligence in the field, James Kolozsi is no
stranger to challenging situations.
Since leaving the Australian Army after almost 20 years of service, he has now turned his efforts to protecting people working on the frontline of our health service, our staff.
As Western Health’s Director of Safety Risk and Emergency Management, James leads a team that ensures we identify workplace risks and introduce strategies to keep employees safe.
On Remembrance Day, James takes time to focus not on the tragedy and trauma of war, but on the positive human interactions and impacts of his service.
“For me, it’s about remembering the people, the interactions and the experiences that have left a lasting impression on me, in a positive way.”
He also pauses to remember his comrades, including those who have passed away and others who are experiencing health challenges.
“I think about the people who meant something to me in my service and that’s not just the people I served with, it’s the people I interacted with, for instance, locals in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan who made a real impression on me.
“It’s those human interactions that have left a mark on me that I reflect on.
“I think about the people who I served with who have passed away or have been diagnosed with serious health conditions.”
James left school at 17. He was a capable, but restless student. Initially, he had his sights set on taking to the skies.
“I was always fascinated with aeroplanes and wanted to become a pilot, but if you leave school before finishing Year 12, it’s very difficult.
“I thought the military would be a secure career with good opportunities to do different things.
“My first job was as a ‘missile number’, that’s controlling surface-to-air missiles, so while I couldn’t fly aeroplanes, I was taught how to shoot them down.”
His first deployment was in Iraq for the start of the Second Gulf War.
“We were sitting in the Persian Gulf on a Navy ship, the HMAS Kanimbla, to provide air defence for any incoming missiles.
“We were there waiting for the conflict to start for about a month before it began.
“It was a war zone, and I knew what I was there to do and my role, but I was young and naive to understand the full context of what was happening.
“There were a few instances that brought home how serious the situation was and the risks. For instance, we had a couple of missiles land a good 10km away from us and we could see the explosions.”
After ten years working with surface to air missiles, he was ready for a new challenge.
James moved into signals intelligence, an area of the Australian Defence Force where they collect and analyse signals from a range of intercepted communications from adversaries.
He was also deployed to Afghanistan and East Timor where he carried out a range of intelligence duties.
After leaving the Army, James worked in the oil and gas industry in health and safety in central Queensland and Brunei, before returning to his home state to work for Victoria Police as their OHS Operations Manager.
James began his role at Western Health in 2020.
Over the past four years he has led our occupational health and safety and emergency management capability.
“When I reflect on why I work in public health, for me it’s about wanting to support the people who are on the frontline helping the community.
“They work in challenging situations and it’s my role to make sure there are measures in place to reduce the risk of harm and to promote safe work practices, so that our people are psychologically and physically safe.”
