Frequently Asked Questions
What is the WorkHealth Improvement Network (WIN)?
The WIN is an innovative approach to tackling complex workplace health and safety issues in Victoria, by exploring
how workplace health promotion initiatives and on-the-job health and safety can be better integrated through a
model we call integrated worker health.
Integrated worker health brings together worker health and wellbeing, as well as on-the-job safety, because a
single inclusive program is much more effective than running separate programs. Why? Workers who are healthy
both physically and mentally are more productive and less likely to injure themselves at work.
The program focuses on reducing the risk of injuries and illnesses, as well as optimising physical and mental
wellbeing – the effects of which can have an impact not only on work life, but on home life too.
The WIN aims to create workplaces that support workers to flourish.
How does the WIN work?
The WIN program takes a continuous improvement approach that not only keeps workers safe, but also creates
healthier, thriving workers, helping businesses to achieve their performance goals.
The WIN utilises a collaborative method of learning, which means that all workplaces involved can benefit not just
from their own findings, but from those of other organisations as well. Workplaces in the WIN are encouraged to
operate with an action learning approach, where small-scale ideas or solutions can be tested, and then
implemented if they’re successful. Your involvement in the WIN means that you’ll be part of shaping a new
approach to health and safety, with the potential for innovative solutions to be implemented in other workplaces
across Victoria.
The WIN gives your workplace a suite of tools to support you to be a leader in workplace health and safety.
Organisations that join the network will be provided with a framework for testing and implementing new ideas in the
workplace in order to improve complex workplace issues such as musculoskeletal disorders, mental health and
safety culture. This framework is made up of two main parts: the milestones that your workplace should work
towards, or Change Principles, and the practical steps that your workplace can take to achieve these milestones, or
Change Ideas.
How will joining the WIN benefit my workplace?
Integrated programs such as the WIN make headway on complex workplace health and safety issues such as
musculoskeletal disorders and mental health. Joining the WIN means your organisation will have access to cuttingedge research and expertise from industry leaders, collaborative improvement opportunities, funding, and the
chance to be part of the first program of its kind in Australia. You’ll also find structured opportunities to receive
detailed information about your workplace and how it compares to other worksites in the WIN, exchange ideas and
network. There’s also the potential for better alignment of your safety, health promotion and human resources
programs, which will contribute to the improvement of operational efficiency in your workplace.
Integrated programs such as the WIN are a cost-effective means of reducing worker compensation costs,
absenteeism, and the use of sick or disability leave. They are particularly effective in improving mental health and
reducing musculoskeletal disorders, while helping to promote worker engagement, and stimulate new ideas in the
workplace.
What is an integrated approach?
An integrated approach to worker health brings together worker health and wellbeing, as well as on-the-job safety.
Evidence tells us that an integrated approach is more efficient in lowering the risk of injury, as well as improving
worker health and wellbeing – and a happy and healthy worker is a more productive worker.
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What is the connection between the WorkHealth Improvement Network Model and the previous WorkHealth
program?
The previous WorkHealth program was a five-year, voluntary health promotion program focusing on health
promotion initiatives to reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes in the Victorian working population.
The program achieved remarkable scale and reach; around 800,000 workers had a free WorkHealth check in
38,000 businesses across Victoria; 1,800 businesses were offered seed funding to offer health and wellbeing
activities to their staff; and 40,000 workers were provided expert support to make lifestyle changes through the
WorkHealth Coach program.
The evaluation of WorkHealth highlighted a number of interrelationships between worker health, well-being and
safety and how this is managed in Victorian workplaces, which warranted further investigation and research. This
evaluation, together with emerging trends in global practice, points to the integration of OHS, health promotion
(HP), human resources (HR) and organisational development strategies, systems and activities as a potential way
to achieve measurable improvement in the health and safety of the working population.
WorkHealth forged a reputation as the primary conduit for Victorian employers to engage with workplace health
promotion; and as a provider of quality, voluntary information, education and support for Victorian employers
seeking to achieve the highest standards of health, safety and wellbeing for their business.
Having invested significantly in building awareness and acceptance of the workplace as a setting for health
promotion, WorkSafe Victoria now has a significant opportunity to leverage the networks and relationships that
have been established through investment to date and build upon employer and worker interest in this area.
Why is WorkSafe focusing on MSDs, mental health and safety culture?
Despite growing awareness and focus over a number of years, complex OHS issues such as stress, mental injury
and musculoskeletal disorders, for which there are a range of physical, psychosocial, work and non-work related
drivers and triggers, continue to contribute significantly to the number and severity of injuries and illness in
Victorian workers.
Integrated approaches to worker health, safety and wellbeing have been shown to be effective in addressing
multifactorial issues including the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders, improving safety
culture, the diminution of stress and poor mental health, reductions in lifestyle risk factors such as smoking as well
as improving participation among high-risk workers and expediting return to work.
Why is WorkSafe Victoria focusing on public hospitals and manufacturing?
Public hospitals were selected as a target industry due to the relatively high risk nature of the industry, representing
almost 5% of total scheme claims. Manufacturing has the most manual handling claims and has a much higher
than average manual handling claims rate per million hours worked.
The WINs provide a valuable and positive incentive as part of our whole-of-organisation response to the Victorian
Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) report into OHS risks in Public Hospitals (Victorian Auditor General, 2012), and
the whole-of-government support package under development for the Victorian manufacturing industry.
How will non-participating employers benefit/learn from this?
Health and safety outcomes, critical learnings and other important information will be collected and fed back
through the network to benefit all worksites and WorkSafe Victoria This will lead to the development of practical
guidance and resources for effective practices in the Victorian context made available to all employers, including
those not participating directly in the program.
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