Return To Work Fund
Closing date for application submissions 31 October 2007
Following the successful launch of the $10 million Return to Work (RTW) Fund in July 2006, WorkSafe Victoria has received overwhelming interest from unions, employer associations and other eligible organisations. Importantly, the Fund has meant that WorkSafe has been able to support innovative projects designed to improve outcomes for injured workers in Victoria in priority RTW areas.
What has changed
At the time of its launch, it was anticipated that the RTW Fund would run for up to 3 years. Due to the enormous interest in the Fund since its launch, WorkSafe now considers it appropriate to nominate a closing date for applications, in order to enable the allocation of all remaining funds.
For initiatives to be considered for RTW funding, prospective applicants must ensure that completed submissions are received using the prescribed application form by 31 October 2007.
What has not changed
The individual merit of each application will continue to be primarily assessed with reference to the RTW Fund purpose, objectives and priorities. The extent to which an initiative fulfils these requirements will determine whether it is approved for support.
Completion of the application form does not constitute an offer by WorkSafe, nor an agreement to provide any funding for the proposed initiative. WorkSafe retains absolute discretion over whether an application for funding is approved, declined or whether negotiations occur with the applicant(s) regarding the terms of an agreement.
Approved Initiatives
Funding has been allocated to applications that meet the RTW Fund objectives and priorities, including additional selection criteria
The amount of funding allocated to an initiative is commensurate with the methodology and outcomes of the proposed project.
As the total amount of funding available is fixed, and due to the high number of applications being submitted, priority will be given to applications as they are received.
WorkSafe continues to support prospective applicants with the application process.
A number of projects have received funding and WorkSafe is in the process of finalising RTW Fund agreements for further projects.
See below for more information on current projects:
ORGANISATION: Victoria Police
PROJECT TITLE: "Stress Intervention Process - videoing of the case conference process"
DURATION: 6 months
This project aims to facilitate more meaningful and constructive case conferencing within Victoria Police's Stress Intervention Program. The case conferencing process can be an effective contributor to the RTW process by giving an injured worker and their key RTW contacts an opportunity to communicate and increase their understanding of RTW processes and outcomes.
Despite this, Victoria Police has identified that relevant parties can be hesitant to participate. To overcome this, Victoria Police will produce a DVD of the case conference to help explain and demystify the process. The purpose is to encourage more injured workers to participate and to improve communication between those involved.
This DVD has the potential to be applicable to other industries and claims where case conferencing is used.
ORGANISATION: Victorian Trades Hall Council
PROJECT TITLE: "More durable RTW outcomes through awareness"
DURATION: 3 years
The aim is to deliver more durable RTW outcomes though raising awareness among workplace parties about their rights and obligations on RTW issues. The project will also focus on ways to help them achieve more effective and durable RTW outcomes.
Three central aims include:
- raising awareness of the rights and obligations of both employers and injured workers to effectively manage the RTW process;
- improved capabilities among workers and employers to deal with RTW issues in a collaborative way; and
- providing workplace parties with the tools to improve RTW through ground level support and training.
ORGANISATION: Australian Services Union (Private Sector Branch)
PROJECT TITLE: "Improving communication, improving outcomes"
DURATION: 3 years
The purpose is to:
- explore stress claims in the community sector and the legal industry (part of the financial, property and business services industry);
- develop a model for early intervention to reduce the incidence of claims; and
- evaluate RTW programs in host organisations for the sustainable return to work of injured workers recovering from a stress injury.
ORGANISATION: VECCI
PROJECT TITLE: "RTW Co-ordinator information package for small\medium employers"
DURATION: 1 year
The purpose is to develop and deliver, from the two-day RTW Coordinator Training course, a four-hour seminar specifically designed to provide SME’s with a basic understanding of the RTW process and how they can best meet their associated legislative responsibilities.
It is intended that these seminars will be supported by:
- targeted guidance material specifically developed for the management of RTW in SME’s (available to seminar attendees and Victorian SME’s via VECCI website);
- the establishment of a telephone hotline with a dedicated toll free number to support RTW related enquiries; and
- the facilitation of trial roundtable discussions as an optional component of the seminars.
VECCI will assess the suitability of making this training available on-line as a web based program.
ORGANISATION: Murray Goulburn Cooperative Co Limited
PROJECT TITLE: "Project ICE -Intervention, Communication & Education"
DURATION: 18 mths
This initiative is targeted at providing customized tools to support the delivery of early intervention strategies to rural Victorian employers, taking into particular consideration barriers which may be unique to regional areas for example access to health care services, availability of general practitioners and allied health services.
It is anticipated that the development of this model & subsequent training program for supervision and management will enable more effective & proactive workplace intervention to occur in a more timely manner.
ORGANISATION: ResWorks
PROJECT TITLE: "RTW Knowledge Base"
DURATION: 1 year
This project aims to develop an online research database that will translate landmark return to work research into transparent practical knowledge which will facilitate positive and early return to work through educating and supporting stakeholders, such as workers, employers, treating practitioners, and insurers.
ORGANISATION: St Vincent’s & Mercy Private Hospitals
PROJECT TITLE: "Changing the culture - An integrated workplace health management approach to improve RTW outcomes"
DURATION: 2 years
The purpose is to test the hypothesis, that by creating a positive and supportive workplace culture in the hospital, it is possible to reduce injury claims and achieve more timely, effective and sustainable return to work outcomes. The range of workplace based initiatives will be trialled across two campuses.
ORGANISATION: Australian Nursing Federation
PROJECT TITLE: "Nurses return to work in hospitals"
DURATION: 3years
The aim of the ANF initiative is to develop and implement a 3-phase program designed to assist the hospital sector to:
1. Improve Rehabilitation and return to work outcomes
2. Reduce the human and financial costs of injury and illness
3. Reduce the loss of skilled nurses and the associated costs of nurse shortages, recruitment and training, and
4. Promote recruitment and retention.
Regular progress reports on the project will be available on the Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch) website at
www.anfvic.asn.au/issues/topics/5618.html
ORGANISATION: Catholic Education Commission of Victoria
PROJECT TITLE: "Padre Pio Project"
DURATION: 1.5 years
This initiative seeks to develop and implement an early intervention strategy targeted at workplace stress. The project will focus on the education of key stakeholders in the awareness and management of stress related conditions, and will look at how early intervention can prevent stress from evolving into medical disease.
ORGANISATION: National Union of Workers
PROJECT TITLE: "A collaborative approach to improving durability of employer\employee RTW"
DURATION: 3 years
The purpose of this initiative is to develop a model that facilitates workplace support to injured workers and their employers. It seeks to achieve this through the development and delivery of a tailored RTW Training Program, targeted at Health and Safety Representatives. The NUW will also provide assistance to employers and workers to help integrate these representatives into their workplaces.
ORGANISATION: Bendigo Health
PROJECT TITLE: "Educating for Early RTW Targets"
DURATION: 1 year
The purpose is to develop a training module in consultation with key stakeholders for undergraduate medical and physiotherapy students. The module will target the mechanisms and benefits of facilitating positive RTW outcomes and will be supported by a resource kit. The initiative will be piloted with La Trobe and Monash Universities in Bendigo. It is anticipated that the education material will also be disseminated to current medical and physiotherapy providers in the Bendigo region to support their service delivery.
ORGANISATION: Barwon Health
PROJECT TITLE: "Development of an effective manager training program in the process of injury management to facilitate an early RTW"
DURATION: 2 years
The aim is to develop a tailored training package for managers and supervisors about facilitating early RTW. Barwon Health has identified that managers and supervisors are integral to the RTW process but their training needs are not necessarily being well met. The proposed face to face training program will be supported by the development and implementation of an online competency based assessment tool that will form part of an annual refresher program.
ORGANISATION: Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (RCSA)
PROJECT TITLE: "Alternative RTW research model project"
DURATION: 1 year
The aim is to undertake research into the effectiveness of a complimentary model to facilitate the RTW of injured workers, capitalising on the employment opportunities provided by recruitment and on-hired employment services. A full review of the current status of RTW in the labour hire industry and the impact of change on all stakeholders (such as Agents, Occupational Rehabilitation Providers, employers and injured workers) will be conducted as part of the research.
ORGANISATION: Ballarat & Gippsland Trades & Labour Council
PROJECT TITLE: "Return to Work Project"
DURATION: 3 years
The aim is to raise awareness among all workplace parties in regional Victoria about their rights and obligations in relation to RTW issues. This initiative has been designed with three central aims:
- To identify existing problems in the RTW process which are unique to regional Victoria
- To identify factors that contribute to successful RTW programs in regional Victoria
- To identify and develop workable solutions using the above information
ORGANISATION: Australian Industry Group
INITIATIVE TITLE: "Claim Ready"
DURATION: 18 months
AiG is testing the hypothesis that WorkSafe's Health and Safety Small Business Program can be adapted to the claims and RTW environment in medium-sized employers to positively impact RTW outcomes. AiG anticipate that this initiative will help small and medium employers approach RTW in a more positive way by helping them to understand what they need to do if a claim occurs, and the benefits of having appropriate strategies in place before an injury occurs.
AiG will conduct a pilot program with its members which involves a minimum of 276 workplace visits in industries where RTW outcomes are traditionally poor and the nature of work creates a likelihood of injury occurring.
APPLICANT: AMWU (Vehicle Division)
INITIATIVE TITLE:"Improving access to RTW for workers where English is a second language"
DURATION: 18 months
The AMWU aims to improve the understanding of and access to RTW for workers whose second language is English. The proposed project has three key aims:
To test the hypothesis that existing support material is limiting access to RTW options for workers whose second language is English.
To review local, national and international research identifying barriers to injury management and RTW for workers whose second language is English.
To develop alternative visual material to assist with access to RTW for workers whose second language is English.
A trial of the alternative visual material follow a research and development phase that includes literature and material reviews, focus groups and workplace consultation activity.
APPLICANT: Austin Health
INITIATIVE TITLE: "Managing interpersonal conflict to improve return to work outcomes"
DURATION: 18 months
Austin Health will develop a program of interventions to prevent and manage psychological injuries and improve RTW outcomes, specifically for cases resulting
from interpersonal conflict. The initiative will be conducted in key Austin Health departments and has the following key components:
- Manager training ? a training program will be implemented to improve the skills of line managers in identifying and managing interpersonal conflict.
- Organisational awareness program ?this program will aim to develop the abilities of workers to identify interpersonal conflict and seek support.
- Mediation process ? the Austin Hospital will refer workers to WorkSafe's 'Workplace Relationship Counselling Service' to help resolve cases of interpersonal conflict identified through the project, whether this be pre-claim or post claim.
By establishing workplace awareness, educating line managers to identify interpersonal conflict, and referring through to mediation services, this initiative will significantly reduce barriers of conflict to RTW and at the same time create a supportive RTW environment.
About the RTW Fund
Returning injured workers to appropriate work, in a timely and sustainable way is a primary objective of WorkSafe Victoria.
The Return to Work Fund (RTW Fund) was created to encourage and support collaboration between employer and worker groups and workplace parties to increase Return to Work (RTW) opportunities. It commenced in July 2006 is expected to run for up to three years.
Purpose: The purpose of the RTW Fund is to support initiatives that focus on improving opportunities for injured Victorian workers to successfully return to work.
Objectives: The objectives of the RTW Fund are:
- To raise awareness of the RTW process among all parties involved in RTW
- To raise the understanding of what constitutes timely and effective RTW practice
- To support the development of methods that improve the ability of both employers and workers to initiate and manage RTW
- To support initiatives that will increase the opportunities for injured workers to successfully RTW
- To generate collaborative RTW solutions involving employer and worker parties that can be expanded or more widely applied
- To explore innovative approaches to RTW issues
Priority areas for the RTW Fund
Each year areas that are seen as key to addressing RTW needs in Victorian workplaces are identified as ‘Fund Priorities’.
The Fund Priorities for 2006/07 focus on encouraging workplace based RTW opportunities, with particular emphasis on the early stages of RTW. These are:
- The encouragement of effective employer and worker communication, education and RTW processes, especially during the pre-claim phase
- The development of real RTW opportunities for injured workers who are unable to return to work with their pre-injury employer due to:
- limited capacity for work (either temporary or permanent) which is unable to be accommodated by the employer;
- an inability to RTW due to the fact that the injury employer is no longer in operation; or
- the need to assist a worker, who is not yet ready to RTW, with a workplace based RTW program in a work environment that will assist them in returning to work more quickly.
- Assistance to employers with little or no experience in managing the RTW of injured workers.
- The development and management of employer and worker networks to share learnings and address RTW issues and opportunities through shared resources, skills and experience
- The customisation of WorkSafe approved RTW Co-ordinator training package that includes delivery and follow up support to meet the specific needs of particular industries or regions
- The improvement of RTW outcomes in areas that traditionally have difficulty with RTW, including (but without being limited to) regional Victoria and small to medium sized business
Further information
The following information about the RTW Fund is available:
Contact us
RTW Fund Manager:
Telephone (03) 9641 1268
Address: Level 19
222 Exhibition Street
Melbourne 3000
Email: RTWFund@worksafe.vic.gov.au
