Workplaces to get a healthy funding boost

Published Tuesday, 11 March, 2014 at 08:30 AM

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
The Honourable Jarrod Bleijie

A healthy serve of funding is being made available to Queensland businesses that promote a better lifestyle for their workers, delivering on the Government’s election promise to revitalise frontline services.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said $1.4 million worth of grants under the Working for Wellness Program was up for grabs for businesses that think innovatively about health and wellbeing.

“We want people to think outside of the lunchbox,” Mr Bleijie said.

“The Queensland Government is committed to having the safest workplaces in Australia and a healthy work environment is a win for everybody.

“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.

“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.

"In the past, nutritionists have visited construction sites, physical activity challenges have been held at truck depots and on-campus fitness classes have helped school teachers become positive role models for our next generation of workers.

"With obesity and diabetes on the rise across the world, this is real support for workplaces, which are ideal environments to encourage healthy lifestyles and reduce the risk of chronic illness.”

Mr Bleijie urged any employer or worker who had a health initiative planned or already underway 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 Australian 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.

[ENDS] 10 March 2014 

Media Contact: Ashley McDermid 0412 731 355 or Jaime Wells 0409 624 139