NSW Workcover mentor program open for businesses

WorkCover NSW is calling for small and large businesses across the State to take part in its 2015 Mentor Program.

The WorkCover Mentor Program is a free program which involves large and medium-sized businesses pairing with a small business to help them identify new ways to address safety in their workplace.

Acting General Manager of WorkCover’s Work Health and Safety Division Peter Dunphy said the Mentor Program not only enabled small businesses to improve safety but also competitiveness and productivity.

“Finding time to focus on safety and make improvements can be a challenge for any small business,” Mr Dunphy said.

“The Mentor Program brings big and small businesses together to create new ways of tackling safety in the workplace.

“Mentors understand the work health and safety challenges mentees face on a daily basis and can suggest innovative solutions to safety, injury management and workers compensation issues.

“Together they participate in one-on-one discussions and onsite visits as well as free WorkCover advisory and educational sessions across a variety of safety and injury management topics.

“If you are a large or medium-sized business with an interest in proactive workplace safety, or a small business that wants to learn more about it, gain a competitive advantage and boost productivity, register for the 2015 WorkCover Mentor Program today.”

Mr Dunphy added that the Program, which generally runs for six to eight months, was flexible enough to fit around mentors and mentees’ work schedules.

“Since 2006, more than 520 businesses have participated in the Mentor Program with more than 90 per cent of mentees improving work health and safety as a result,” he said.

“Through the WorkCover Mentor Program, we aim to have more NSW workers return home safely at the end of the working day and fewer families experience the devastating impact of a workplace injury.”

To qualify as a mentee, a business must employ less than 20 full-time workers or equivalent.

Entries close Monday 9 February 2015.

WorkCover has produced a video featuring the stories of previous mentors and mentees. For further information on the WorkCover Mentor Program, visit www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/mentor or call WorkCover on 131050.