Big Dollars for Healthy Workplaces

More than $1 million will be available in grants for Queensland businesses who think innovatively about creating safe and healthy workplaces.

The grants are part of the Queensland Government’s Working for Wellness Program, which has $1.4 million in grants available.

“Healthy employees are three times more productive at work than their colleagues, helping to boost the economy, while smoking, excessive drinking, poor diet and excess body weight have clear links to absenteeism, low morale and increased workers’ compensation premiums,” Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said.

“Obesity alone is thought to cost Australian businesses around $6.4 billion every year through loss in productivity.

“These grants are about encouraging healthy habits and have funded more than 500 workplaces, giving around 33,000 workers the opportunity to improve their health and wellbeing.”

Bleijie said any employer or worker who had a health initiative planned or already underway needed to get their application for funding in soon.

“All industry sectors are eligible, but there is a special focus on those where workers are most at risk, including transport and storage, construction, agriculture, fisheries and forestry and mining and resources in rural and remote Queensland,” he said.

The Workplaces for Wellness Funding Program is a joint Federal and State Government initiative, funded under the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health.

Applications for funding have to be made by April 7. For more information, visit https://workplacesforwellness.qld.gov.au/ or call the WHS Infoline on 1300 369 915.