Victoria’s 2.6 million workers will have the chance to be screened for preventable diseases like diabetes, in a major world first initiative announced today by Premier John Brumby.

Mr Brumby, who has made tackling chronic disease one of his highest priorities, said the new initiative, WorkHealth, would be funded for five years under a $600 million fund to be set aside from WorkSafe’s surplus funds.

“The epidemic of chronic disease ranks as one of the biggest issues of our time.  Chronic disease threatens our economy, our quality of life, and our longevity,” Mr Brumby said.

“Factors that increase the risk of chronic disease include poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol misuse, excess weight, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

“Workers who are overweight and at risk of developing a chronic disease like diabetes, stroke or heart disease are more likely to be injured at work.

“WorkHealth will be the first program in the world to target the connection between chronic disease and workplace injury across an entire workforce.

“It will save lives and set a new international standard for workplace health and safety.”

Mr Brumby said over 190,000 Victorians had Type 2 diabetes, with another 15,000 diagnosed with the disease every year.  For every known case, there is another undiagnosed one.

“Every year diabetes and other chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease cost Victoria’s health system over $600 million and industry over $440 million in lost productivity,” he said.

Mr Brumby said research released today by the Department of Human Services showed that by 2025, 83 per cent of Victoria’s men and 75 per cent of its women would be either be overweight or obese, putting them at risk of chronic diseases.

That’s about 4.2 million Victorians who will be obese or overweight – up from 2.5 million today.

From July this year the new WorkHealth initiative will involve health care workers going across Victoria to deliver information, advice and free on-site screening services to workers.

Over time the program is expected to free up $60 million per year in health costs, as well as:

• Cut the proportion of workers at risk of developing chronic disease by 10 per cent;
• Cut workplace injuries and disease by 5 per cent, putting downward pressure on premiums;
• Cut absenteeism by 10 per cent; and
• Boost productivity by $44 million a year.

WorkHealth will visit workplaces and regional centres to offer free on-site screening tests including a Tick Test, which identifies factors that lead to preventable disease, and other tests carried out by health workers to identify a range of health conditions such as high blood sugar level, blood pressure and cholesterol.

Those workers found to be at medium or high-risk, or diagnosed with a preventable disease, will be provided with advice about next steps, like seeing their GP, and will also be able to participate in a lifestyle change program to get them back into a healthy condition.

Under the first stage of the WorkHealth initiative, interest from the new fund will deliver $218 million in programs including:

• $60 million to enable WorkHealth to visit regional centres and Victoria’s small and medium sized businesses to deliver advice and facilitate the free on-site screening services;

• $28 million in dollar-for-dollar grants for larger employers (up to $30 per worker) with payrolls over $10 million to cover the cost of screening and to provide advisory services and lifestyle programs at their worksite; and

• $130 million for prevention programs for those workers most at risk, including the lifestyle change program to encourage workers to lose weight, increase their physical activity and adopt healthier eating habits, as well as an education campaign.

The Minister responsible for Finance, WorkCover and the TAC, Tim Holding, said the world-first WorkHealth scheme was only possible to the strong financial management under the Victorian government.

“Under this initiative we expect to see a healthier workforce and a boost in productivity.  It is a win for workers and a win for business,” Mr Holding said.

“I would hope that every workplace in Victoria would take up this opportunity, especially those larger employers who have benefited from reductions in WorkCover premiums in recent years.”

Health Minister Daniel Andrews said today’s announcement was on top of the $150 million Go for your life strategy, which promotes good eating habits and an active lifestyle.

“Today’s announcement is a major step forward in the fight against chronic disease and in making sure Victoria is the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” Mr Andrews said.

“Along with other ‘firsts’ such as compulsory seatbelts and smoking bans, it cements Victoria’s reputation as an international leader in health reforms.”

Larger employers applying for grants will be required to have safeguards in place to protect workers’ private and personal health information, Victoria’s strong privacy laws would protect information given by workers participating in the program, as they do now when it comes to medical records and patient information.