Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.

New Return to Work Fund launched

On Wednesday 12 July the new $10 Million dollar Return to Work Fund was launched at Victorian WorkCover Authority headquarters in Melbourne.

From left: Neil Coulson, Vecci; Brian Boyd, VTHC; John Lenders WorkCover Minister; Tim Piper, Australian INdustry Group; Greg Tweedly, CEO VWA.

The event was attended by sixty representatives of employee and employer organisations, claims agents, VWA staff.
The fund which formed an integral part of the ‘Benefits package’ announced by the Premier in November 2005 was launched by the Minister of WorkCover John Lenders.
Other speakers included Neil Coulson from VECCI, Tim Piper from AIG and Brian Boyd from Victorian Trades Hall.
The fund will operate from July 2006 and run for three years and financial support will be given to initiatives that fall into three broad categories:
  • return to work projects- These primarily involve the use of problem solving approaches targeting a specific RTW obstacle to generate and implement effective RTW opportunities and outcomes.
  • pilot programs- These trial innovative RTW approaches and solutions.
  • support initiatives- These involve education, information and communication activities

Worker and employer organisations or groups, and workplace parties will be eligible to submit applications for funding.
The merit of each application will be assessed by an expert group within VWA.
Although the fund will be similar to the Safety Development fund and the Workplace Injury Insurance Safety Fund which focussed on applications from both employer associations and unions, single stakeholder applications may also be approved.
Successful applicants will have to commit to meeting stringent requirements about the reporting of progress and the agreed outcomes being sought.
The VWA will provide assistance to those potential applicants to make an application if requested.


More Archive

Powered By three squares