Question Time

WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY RESEARCH GRANTS

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:09): I direct my question to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Will the minister provide the chamber with the details of grants now being offered for research into workplace health and safety?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:09): I thank the member for what is a very important question. Recently, I announced a new round of scholarships to supplement ongoing research into the prevention of workplace injuries and illness in South Australia. To increase the momentum of high quality work, health and safety research in South Australia, SafeWork SA is offering new funding through the Work Health and Safety Supplementary Scholarships. Applications are now open for the 2011 Work Health and Safety Scholarships, and a total of up to $70,000 has been made available through two scholarships this year in what will be an annual program.

The scholarships are designed to encourage PhD or Masters candidates to focus their research projects on prevention of work-related injury and illness. As such, only applicants who have already been approved to pursue a higher degree by research will be eligible. The ultimate purpose of the Work Health and Safety Scholarships is to support South Australia's Strategic Plan target 2.11: a 40 per cent reduction in workplace injury from 2002 to 2012, through the Occupational Health and Safety Research Strategy for South Australia, by encouraging the conduct of research aimed at preventing work-related injury and illness.

The successful researchers will be able to access the workplace injury and illness claims data, currently used by SafeWork SA, to assist with their projects. The Work Health and Safety Scholarship will pay $10,000 a year for the duration of the HDR scholarship. For example, the total value of the Work Health and Safety Scholarship for a 3½-year PhD is $35,000.

Applications will be assessed by the SafeWork SA Research Committee, which is a subcommittee of the SafeWork SA Advisory Committee. The SafeWork SA Research Committee has members representing employees and employers, as well as three South Australian universities, SafeWork SA and WorkCover SA. The scholarships will be administered by the university at which the research is being undertaken, with appropriate progress reports being forwarded to SafeWork SA.

The funding builds on the $412,000 already available this year through the Work Health and Safety commissioned research grant program and small grants for innovative practices of up to $50,000 each. SafeWork SA also offers grants in support of large research projects that are co-funded by the Australian Research Council. This research is critical to improving and expanding knowledge in South Australia on workplace safety.

The more detailed this base of research knowledge becomes, the more effective we can be in devising targeted programs to reduce workplace harm. We also envisage being able to share these research findings with other jurisdictions, potentially expanding the benefits of safer and healthier workplaces beyond South Australia. The deadline for applications is Monday 7 November 2011 and details are available on the SafeWork SA website.