Raised with: Minister for Finance, WorkCover and the Transport
Accident Commission
Raised by: Ms Tierney
Raised on: 2 February 2010
REPLY:
I am informed that:
WorkHealth is a world first program aimed at reducing the risk
of chronic disease across Victoria’s working population.
The program, delivered by WorkSafe Victoria, includes free
health checks for Victorian workers and funding, tools and resources for
employers to introduce health promotion activities into their workplace. To
date, WorkHealth has delivered more than 71 000 WorkHealth checks to Victorian
workers, and over 3800 businesses have applied to participate.
WorkSafe recently launched a major state-wide
media campaign, including television, radio, press and online advertising, to
raise awareness and encourage employers and workers to get WorkHealth checks
started in their workplace. The campaign is supported by a mail out to all
Victorian employers providing them with the necessary information to sign up for
health checks. Already the campaign has resulted in a seven-fold increase in
applications for the WorkHealth checks.
WorkSafe’s ongoing state-wide marketing and promotions effort
will be supported through the year with a series of major community events,
including offering free WorkHealth checks at 11 VCFL Games of the Month across
regional Victoria.
Since June 2009, more than 6000 workers in Western Victoria
have had a WorkHealth check and over 350 applications have been received from
employers in this region keen to offer the checks to their staff.
There are currently 12 endorsed health service providers
delivering the checks across Western Victoria, including community based
providers such as Ballarat District Nursing, Moyne Health Services, Royal
District Nursing, Western District Health Service and West Wimmera Health
Service. Each of these providers is supported by WorkSafe to promote WorkHealth
checks in their local community and encourage employers to sign up for the
checks.
Employers and workers in the Western Victoria Region can visit
the WorkHealth website www.workhealth.vic.gov.au, call 1800 136 089 or visit
their local WorkSafe office for more information about the WorkHealth initiative
and WorkHealth checks.