Research grants to prevent work-related injuries and illness

The South Australian government is inviting SA researchers to apply for grants to help expand the body of knowledge on workplace health and safety.

Industrial Relations Minister Paul Caica said: “The Commissioned Research Grants program is one of three types of grants programs provided by SafeWork SA to support the reduction of workplace injury and illness in South Australia.

“Under this program, which began in 2007, the grants assist university-based or independent researchers undertake applied research aimed at preventing work-related injury and illness.”

A total of $840,000 is available from the current round of Commissioned Research Grants, with a suggested minimum of $50,000 to be allocated to each of the successful applicants.

“While successful applicant projects must be completed within three years, special consideration may be given to proposals for longer-duration projects, for example when longitudinal research is undertaken,” the Minister continued.

The SafeWork SA website — www.safework.sa.gov.au — contains information on how to apply, including an application template. The deadline for applications is 5 pm, 28 August 2009.

Other SafeWork SA grants programs are:

• Small Grants - to directly assist SA agencies to develop or improve their workplace safety programs or support small OHS&W research projects they plan to undertake;
• Support Grants for ARC Linkage Projects – which support university researchers undertaking major research projects being primarily funded from the Australian Research Council and which frequently involve interstate and international collaboration.

“The state government’s support for this research, through SafeWork SA, is part of a long-term strategy to reduce workplace harm in South Australia,” Minister Caica said. “It complements the day-to-day activities of our labour inspectors, designed to improve the working lives of not just this generation of South Australians, but of those to come.”