icare initiative drives new ideas for return to work

The icare Foundation has launched its new initiative WORKUP – a $5 million investment call to support and empower workers to overcome complex personal and social barriers to return to work.

Amanda Keogh, icare Foundation General Manager said prolonged unemployment during the productive years of life impacts harshly on the quality of life of affected individuals and their families. By improving the system for recovering workers in NSW a profound difference to people’s lives can be made.

“With this call, we are inviting different ideas from innovative organisations who can offer initiatives not used before in the workers compensation system – from start-ups and social ventures to community development organisations. The problem we hope to solve is persistent and complex, so bringing fresh thinking to bear is key,” Keogh said.

“Our goal is to address the ongoing challenge of supporting workers to return to work after a workplace injury. We know that the longer a worker does not return to work the higher the risk of them never returning.”

“Around 77 per cent of injured workers return to work within three months, but for workers who remain off work longer, their chances of returning are much reduced.”

“If you are capable of executing innovative health and wellbeing programs in NSW that are not just ‘business as usual’, then we want to hear from you. This is a genuinely open call. We are open to applications from both for-profit businesses and NGOs with a compelling idea,” Keogh said.