Grants up to $500,000 supporting Victorian workforce and community initiatives that improve recovery and successful return to work outcomes by creating or expanding innovative programs.
On this page you will find
What is the Return to Work Innovations Grants?
The Return to Work Innovations VIC program is a Victorian Government initiative designed to improve recovery and return-to-work outcomes for injured workers in Victoria. The first grant round for this program focuses on Early Intervention for Mental Injuries, aiming to help organisations create or expand innovative projects supporting workers’ timely and successful return to work.
Return to Work Innovations Grants level of support
- Minimum Funding: Not explicitly stated
- Maximum Funding: Up to $500,000 (per project) over two (2) years
- Co-Contribution Requirement: No specific co-contribution requirement has been indicated in the publicly available information. Applicants should, however, confirm if any cost-sharing is expected by reviewing the official guidelines or contacting the grant body directly.
Return to Work Innovations Grants important dates
- Applications Close: Monday, 28 April 2025 (5:00 pm)
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Return to Work Innovations Grants focus areas
Areas of focus that will be considered include, but are not limited to:
- Early access to treatment/support services: Implementing an innovative and improved early intervention triage program/process to identify appropriate treatments to improve return to work outcomes.
- Recover at work: Develop and implement healthy and safe processes, procedures and/or programs that support a worker (with a primary mental injury) that has chosen to remain at work during their recovery. This may include however is not limited to, new and innovative flexible work practices, work re-design, facilitated graded return to work, social supports, retraining, job-seeking support, and service coordination.
- Training and education: Developing training materials; train or educate workplaces on early intervention for primary mental injuries experienced within the workplace; educating employers, workers and medical practitioners on the protection and promotion of worker health.
- Support: Providing services and education to high-risk industries or communities with a higher population of people impacted by primary mental injuries.
Return to Work Innovations Grants priority industries
The following list of industries has the highest rates of workplace mental injuries in Victoria.
- Health care and social assistance
- Education and training
- Transport, postal and warehousing
- Construction
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Wholesale trade
- Administrative and support services
These industries have been defined as priority industries for this grant round.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Return to Work Innovations Grants support
Eligible Projects:
- Innovation: Projects propose novel methods, techniques, services or processes to improve return to work outcomes.
- Evidence based: Projects are grounded in research, data or have a theoretical foundation demonstrating their potential effectiveness.
- Inclusivity and accessibility: Projects propose solutions that are accessible and user friendly for all employees regardless of their technological proficiency or physical capabilities.
- Capability building and knowledge sharing: Projects create new knowledge and build capability through sharing findings and best practices with a broader audience to promote potential wider adoption.
- Working in collaboration: Projects encourage collaboration to leverage diverse expertise, knowledge and resources to achieve shared goals.
Ineligible Projects
The following will not be funded:
- Projects with the primary aim to prevent injuries.
- Projects with the primary aim to undertake research.
- Purchase of equipment where the principal activity is the purchase of equipment.
- Capital works, commercial activities, or projects seeking funding for operational expenses that should be covered by the workplace.
- Activities that are already funded through other WorkSafe programs (e.g. sponsorship, funding agreements, or other grants).
- Fundraising activities or competitions.
- Activities run by WorkSafe.
- Services provided by or on behalf of WorkSafe.
- Retrospective funding (reimbursement for activities that commenced prior to the date of contracting).
- Projects seeking to implement industry-standard controls that are already widely used.
- Projects considered “business as usual” or those intended to meet an employer’s obligation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 or the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013.
- Projects delivered to workplaces outside Victoria.
- Projects seeking funding to develop a proposal (e.g. seed funding).
- Applications intending to auspice another organisation to manage the project.
- Projects using the funds to provide grants to workplaces or individuals.
- Projects delivered on a “for-profit” basis or for commercial gain.
- Projects not deemed ethical in design or delivery.
Other Return to Work Innovations Grants important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Return to Work Innovations Grants support
To meet eligibility requirements, an application must:
- Align to the Investment principles;
- Be from an organisation registered for GST and an ABN;
- Demonstrate improvements to return to work outcomes. Include best practice and evidence-based approaches where possible, and provide evidence to support the application (this may be internal data from a workplace or published peer reviewed literature);
- Demonstrate value for money and sustainability beyond the grant funding;
- Include evidence of support for the project approach from all proposed partner organisations, if the project is being delivered as a partnership;
- Allocate a reasonable percentage of project budget towards contracting experts if required; Allocate a reasonable percentage (approximately 10%) of project budget towards monitoring and evaluation;
- Allocate a reasonable percentage of project budget, according to scale and scope, towards salary (FTE) costs if required (not including engagement with subject matter experts or professional services);
- Maintain or obtain the appropriate type and level of insurance(s) for the activities that are the subject of this grant application, such as public liability or product liability insurance.
The following organisations may not be funded:
- Organisations with outstanding acquittals or debts owing to WorkSafe.
- Organisations subject to current or prior investigations, prosecutions, or convictions within the last five (5) years (these will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Return to Work Victoria Investment Program Control Group prior to contract negotiations).
See the guidelines for full details of organisational requirements.
Return to Work Innovations Grants assessment criteria
Applications are usually evaluated against criteria such as:
1. Alignment to Funding Principles (50%)
- How closely does the proposed initiative align with the grant’s central aims (e.g., early intervention for mental injuries, return-to-work innovation)?
- Does it address key barriers faced by Victorian workers?
2. Quality of the Initiative (40%)
- Is the project well-designed, feasible, and underpinned by evidence or stakeholder feedback?
- Are the project objectives, timelines, and outcomes clearly outlined and achievable?
3. Budget and Value for Money (10%)
- Is the budget realistic, transparent, and appropriately allocated to deliver the project outcomes?
- Does the proposal demonstrate a sound approach to cost management, sustainability, and potential return on investment (e.g., improved recovery rates, reduced time off work)?
How do I get the Return to Work Innovations Grants?
Check Eligibility: Ensure your organisation is based in (or operates within) Victoria and your project aligns with the Early Intervention for Mental Injuries theme.
Prepare Supporting Documentation: Develop a clear project plan, including budget breakdown, timeline, and evidence of need.
Submit Application: Lodge your application through the official grant portal or relevant government website before the closing date.
Await Confirmation: Shortlisted applicants may be asked for further information or clarifications.
Information to prepare for the Return to Work Innovations Grants application
The supporting documents that are required to be submitted with your online application on the SmartyGrants platform are:
- Letter of support from partnering organisations/experts (if applicable);
- Your organisational chart and incorporation details (if relevant to the governance
- of the project);
- Any business or implementation plans you have to support the initiative;
- Any references or relevant evidence that supports your proposal (if applicable);
- Proposed project schedule, with deliverables, key milestones and activities;
- Proposed budget template with project expenditures, expenditure types, income
- and sources.
- Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance certificates of currency.
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for the Return to Work Innovations Grants
Applications are submitted via the smartygrants portal https://worksafevic.smartygrants.com.au/.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Return to Work Innovations Grants resources
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