The Allan Labor Government is funding innovative projects that aim to better protect Victorian workers from occupational disease and illness.
Deputy Premier and Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC Ben Carroll today announced that six organisations have been awarded more than $1.7 million through the latest round of WorkSafe's grants program to help reduce workplace harm and support injured workers.
Occupational diseases and illnesses can be difficult to deal with as they often take a long time to show symptoms after exposure. This delay makes them harder to detect and manage than other health and safety risks.
WorkSafe is providing up to $300,000 in funding for successful applicants to deliver improved risk management practices, increased education and awareness or better support for those impacted or at risk of harm.
The Australian Workers Union will use the funding to raise awareness and improve how occupational diseases such as asbestosis and silicosis are managed in high-risk industries, especially in regional areas and among migrant workers.
The United Workers Union will focus on better education around disease risks in commercial laundries, while the Brickies Network will run programs to educate residential bricklayers about the dangers of crystalline silica exposure.
GippsDairy is working to reduce Q fever cases in the Gippsland region by providing targeted education to dairy workers, while Master Plumbers will address health risks and disease prevention in the plumbing industry, looking at how work environments impact long-term health.
Monash University will lead a research project studying Vietnamese stonemasons who developed silicosis, aiming to identify key strategies for educating migrant workers about occupational health and safety risks.
Application details for the 2025-26 funding round will be announced on the WorkSafe website in the coming months. For more information, visit worksafe.vic.gov.au/worksafe-grants(opens in a new window).
As stated by Deputy Premier and Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC Ben Carroll
"These grants recognise innovative projects that will reduce harm and support workers across Victoria."
"We're working together to find solutions across the board that have the greatest impact on the health, safety and wellbeing of Victorian workers."
As stated by WorkSafe Chief Executive Officer Ash West
"These grants will help each project successfully leverage expert knowledge to implement new resources and innovative practices - each improving the health, safety and wellbeing of workers across a number of industries."
