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Today the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) is launching a new initiative, the Workplace Safety Alliance, to ignite action around workplace safety through the life-changing stories of Australian Paralympians.
The APC’s Workplace Safety Alliance will provide member organisations with access to Australian Paralympic athletes to engage employees through their own inspirational stories of adversity and determination as well as highlight the contemporary issues facing safety in the workplace today.
Safety-focussed sector organisations including transport, mining, construction and manufacturing are encouraged to join the Alliance and gain access to the real-life experiences of Paralympians, whose stories are a proven motivator in bringing safety to the forefront of the minds of the workforce at risk of workplace injury, said Australian Paralympic Committee CEO Jason Hellwig.
“Safety has become an extremely high priority for many Australian businesses and the Australian Paralympic Committee Workplace Safety Alliance is uniquely placed to deliver the message of the real impact and implications of workplace injury and return to work and life,” Mr Hellwig said.
“Member organisations will have access to Paralympians who can inspire greater awareness and ignite the importance of workplace safety through their own life-changing experiences, as many of our athletes have been tragically injured at work.”
Through a partnership with the Safety Institute of Australia (SIA), the APC will ensure the most up-to-date best practice information is being conveyed to our Workplace Safety Alliance member organisations.
SIA spokesperson Patrick Murphy said the Australian Paralympian speakers representing the Workplace Safety Alliance make an incredibly powerful connection with workers over safety.
“We are delighted to be partnering with the Australian Paralympic Committee and considering many of the Paralympians have encountered disability through serious injury at work, we believe their inspirational speakers are the face of resilience and determination,” Murphy says.
For more information on the APC Workplace Safety Alliance, click here.
Fast Facts:
• In 2008-2009 there were 134,485 workers’ compensation claims for serious work-related injuries or illnesses. This equates to an incidence rate of 13.5 serious claims per 1000 employees.
• Work related injury and illness were estimated to cost $60.6 billion in the 2008-09 financial year.
• The APC is a not for profit organisation and a registered charity. Every four years The APC needs to raise $8m to deliver the Australian Teams to the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games.
• The Australian Paralympic Committee is the peak body for Paralympic sport in Australia. It is responsible for the preparation and delivery of Australian teams to the summer and winter Paralympic Games.
• At the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Australia fielded 161 athletes. In Rio 2016, the APC is hoping for a bigger contingent.
• Australian Paralympians are outstanding role models who continually show that ultimately the only obstacle to overcome in life is yourself. That’s the message we promote, as we believe in a fair, equal and inclusive society. We deliver this message through our work: Sport is for all.
• We believe participation in sport provides positive social and physical benefits to people with disabilities, and plays an important role in changing community perceptions of people with disabilities and encouraging more diverse communities.
• Through our education and community programs, the APC has engaged with almost half a million school children and many more Australians about Paralympic sport and the importance of inclusion of people with disabilities.
By APC Media
Posted: 2/8/14
