Media release
From the Minister for Mental Health
Thursday, September 4, 2008
NEW INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR WORKERS
Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV) will have even safer workplaces thanks to a $200,000 Brumby Government funding boost, announced today by Mental Health Minister Lisa Neville.
Speaking at an Australian Services Union Social and Community Workers conference in Melbourne yesterday, Ms Neville announced the funding would be given to Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV) by WorkSafe Victoria as part of an initiative aimed at improving Occupational Health and Safety in the community services.
VICSERV is the peak body for a large number of psychiatric disability rehabilitation services (PDRSs) throughout Victoria
Ms Neville said that the project would provide VICSERV with an opportunity to assist community based rehabilitation and support services to understand their Occupational Health and Safety duties and put action plans in place to prevent OHS risks to their staff and others.
“The Brumby Government values the partnership it has with the non-government sector and believes in supporting safe workplaces for these workers,” Ms Neville said.
“We know that the bulk of Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Services are small businesses, often with very few staff, and many responsibilities,” Ms Neville said.
The community based rehabilitation sector is a sub-sector of community services, which WorkSafe estimates comprises almost 4,000 organisations across 6,500 workplaces.
“The main causes of injuries and illnesses in the community based rehabilitation service sector are stress, passive cigarette smoking, manual handling and vehicle accidents,” Ms Neville said.
“This project gives us an opportunity to work with the peak body, VICSERV to make OHS simpler for small organisations within the sector and to have an independent consultant give CEOs and Managers advice about how they can efficiently control OHS risks at their workplaces.
“CBRS directors, managers and project coordinators will be targeted through VICSERVs CEO and coordinator networks to be involved in the OH&S strategy and training in their workplaces.”
Media contact: Ben Ruse 0437 195 284 or 9651 5799 www.premier.vic.gov.au