The NSW Government is committed to improving the safety of all workplaces in NSW. As a key strategy in realising this commitment, I am pleased to announce the release of Working Together: Public Sector OHS and Injury Management Strategy 2005-2008.

Working Together is a strategy to secure improvements in the public sector's health and safety performance with a specific focus on injury management. It builds on the progress made by public sector agencies in establishing workplace safety management systems since the Government released its OHS and injury management policy and guidelines titled Taking Safety Seriously.

The Working Together strategy reinforces the NSW Government commitment to workplace health and safety. The NSW Government believes that the highest priority should be attached to ensuring that no public sector employee dies or is injured at work in the service of the NSW community. In implementing Working Together, the Government is also giving effect its commitments to be an exemplar to industry and to reduce injuries by 40% by 2012 under the National Occupational Health & Safety Strategy 2002.

The document outlines 5 key improvement targets against which agencies will be accountable. Each agency will be required to report annually to its Minister on progress in achieving the Working Together targets and deliverables. WorkCover, Premiers Department and Treasury will assist by facilitating agency information sharing, coordinating reports and supplying data.

The strategy for 2005-2008 has been endorsed by Cabinet. All Government Agencies and State Owned Corporations (SOCs) are to comply with the requirements of Working Together. If necessary, SOCs can be directed to comply with this Memorandum by the respective portfolio Minister under section 20O of the State Owned Corporations Act 1989 (SOC Act).

I look forward to all NSW Ministers, the Chief Executives of government agencies, employees and their unions working together to achieve significant improvements in workplace health and safety across the public sector.

Copies of the Strategy can be downloaded from www.workingtogether.nsw.gov.au

Morris Iemma MP
Premier and Treasurer

Issued : Employee Relations & Workforce Planning Services (Public Employment Office)
Contact: Anneliese French, WorkCover NSW
EMail: [email protected]
Telephone no: 4321 5030 Facsimile: 9287 5030
File no: 
Date: 14 December 2005