Eight projects will share more than $3 million through the Return to Work Victoria innovation grants program.

The grants target employee recovery programs in manufacturing, construction, transport and warehousing – industries that account for more than one-third of Victoria’s accepted workers’ compensation physical injury claims.

The grant recipients are:

• Recovre – practical support for supervisors and injured workers to promote recovery through work.
• Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union – a dedicated return to work officer and tool kit for manufacturing.
• Ansa Health – wearable sensors and AI motion analysis to speed up recovery from musculoskeletal injuries.
• Geelong Manufacturing Council – peer mentoring, supervisor training and a recovery dashboard.
• Liminal VR – AI smart glasses guiding construction workers returning to work on modified duties.
• Ventura Transport – early intervention to match injured workers to suitable duties.
• Nabenet – tools for construction supervisors through the critical first 52 weeks of recovery.
• Recovery Partners – early intervention, psychosocial screening and a central register of suitable duties.

Meanwhile, applications are open for the state government’s Return to Work innovation trials, offering grants of up to $1.25 million over two years.

The government says the trials will help organisations work together to co-design, test, evaluate and scale innovative approaches to recovery and return to work.

Applications close at 2pm on November 27. Find out mere here.