WorkCover NSW announces recipients of $6.7m grants program

WorkCover NSW has announced 47 recipients of the $6.7m WorkCover Assist Grants Program to help employers, unions and not-for-profit group training organisations prepare for the new national harmonisation of work health and safety legislation.

In total, 24 employer associations were awarded $3.1m, 14 employee representatives were awarded $2.1m and four not-for-profit group training providers were awarded funding worth $344,552. In addition, four employer associations and one employee representative received high risk focus area grants worth $393,487.

"NSW represented around a third of all business activity in Australia; and with more than 3.2 million workers in the state, the changes to work health and safety laws would affect a large number of people," said WorkCover CEO Lisa Hunt. “The harmonisation of WHS legislation will reduce compliance costs and regulatory burden for employers and enable workers holding licences to work across jurisdictions more easily."

It will also provide consistency in safe work standards across Australia and allow the states and territories to share resources and information more freely.