Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace today joined rehabilitation and return to work experts at the North Queensland Return to Work Conference and Expo in Townsville.
Ms Grace said the conference was all about getting workers healthy and back on the job.
“The Return to Work Conference and Expo is about getting workers, employers and health experts together to develop strategies for getting injured workers healthy again and back to work as soon as possible,” Ms Grace said.
“The Government wants positive and sustainable return to work outcomes – we want all workers to be safe, healthy and as productive as possible.
“That’s why last year the Palaszczuk Government introduced a new work capacity certificate in Queensland to support injured workers by focusing on what tasks they can do in the workplace, rather than what they can’t do.
“It’s an important part of our strategy to help injured workers get back on the job when they’re capable of doing so.”
Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland and Member for Mundingburra Coralee O’Rourke said encouragingly, there had been a decrease in workers’ compensation claims across a number of the high risk industries in North Queensland over the past financial year.
“Construction claims are down 27 per cent and manufacturing claims have dropped 16 per cent in North Queensland,” Ms O’Rourke said.
“These are encouraging signs but they also highlight the need for ongoing strategies to promote a happy and healthy workforce.”
Ms Grace said it was appropriate the conference was being held on World Day for Safety and Health at Work— and Workers’ Memorial Day.
“It gives people a chance to reflect on how their leadership and actions can prevent work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses,” she said.
