Workplace Health and Safety Queensland -- Work health funding program applicatio...

Eligible workplace consortiums, industry associations and not-for-profit organisations are invited to apply for grants of up to $50,000 for projects that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of workers in an identified high risk industry.

The High-Risk Industry Work Health Funding Program, which is part of the Commonwealth-funded Healthy Workers Initiative*, is open to organisations from the building and construction industry, transport and storage industry, and the mining and resources sector and associated supply chains in rural and regional Queensland.

The funding program will help to encourage healthy lifestyles for Queensland workers through activities and programs that support workers in adopting healthy behaviours.

Projects will be required to address risk factors such as smoking, poor nutrition, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and overweight and obesity.

These projects should encourage healthy behaviours and create a supportive work environment to make healthy choices easier for workers. The types of initiatives that will be funded include:

  • structured wellness programs and activities
  • environmental interventions - this may include changes to the physical environment or the organisational environment (e.g. policies, work design, work environment, culture)
  • applied research - to address gaps in current knowledge at workplace and/or industry level
  • integration of worker health and wellbeing activities or strategies with existing workplace health and safety and/or injury prevention management systems.

Those interested should visit the WHSQ website for more suggested strategies and activities that could be included as part of their proposal.

Applications close at 5:00 pm on Friday 15 March 2013. For information on funding guidelines and the application process please call the WHS Infoline on 1300 369 915 or visit www.worksafe.qld.gov.au.

* The Healthy Workers Initiative is a joint Australian, state and territory government initiative under the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health that aims to increase access to information on healthy lifestyle behaviours for Queensland workers.