NTA receives $100K grant to Develop Recovery at Work Initiative
New Zealand Trucking Association has been awarded an ACC Innovation Fund grant of $100,000 in the second round of funding to develop a Recovery at Work Initiative for the transport and logistics industry.
The ACC Innovation Fund programme rewards innovation in the health sector that helps people recover from injury faster. They partner with health providers to support initiatives to improve outcomes and experiences for people recovering from injury.
The Innovation Fund is available annually and has specific themes for each round. The Innovation Fund round two focused on ideas that helped injured individuals stay engaged with their workplace and recover at work, highlighting the benefits for personal health and business efficiency. It encouraged proposals that introduced efficient care pathways, developed accessible services, enhanced processes, utilised impactful technology, or created tailored care packages.
Preferred projects were those ready for quick implementation, deliverable within 12 months, accessible to all cultures, supported by relevant entities, and had scalability potential.
“This initiative is in perfect alignment with HARMfree Transport and Logistics and will be an excellent addition to our online platform. As an industry association, we are closely connected to our members. This project is crucial for maintaining our workers’ connection to their work during recovery,” said John Sansom, project manager, NTA.
The Transport and
Logistics – Recovery at Work Initiative by the New Zealand Trucking Association will be a comprehensive project aimed at improving recovery processes in the transport and logistics sector following workplace injuries.
The initiative will include developing a dedicated module on the HARMfree Transport and Logistics online portal, which will feature comprehensive recovery packs tailored to the challenges faced by workers in the sector. It will encompass multilingual resources, informative videos, success stories and industryspecific management processes aimed at supporting injured workers’ effective recovery and maintaining workplace connection.
The project, which emphasises inclusivity, will integrate Te Ao Māori principles and focus on physical and mental health benefits, skills retention and positive impacts on productivity and workplace culture. The initiative will also provide various tools and resources for rehabilitation, ensuring equitable support for the diverse workforce.
“We collaborate closely with our partners, National Road Carriers (NRC), to proudly advance health, safety, and wellbeing initiatives within the transport and logistics industry,” said Sansom.
“The Recovery at Work initiative represents a further step in equipping our industry with the tools necessary for improved outcomes. This initiative will be seamlessly integrated into the HARMfree online portal, enhancing our digital resources and support for the sector.”
The HARMfree Transport and Logistics online portal and forum offers a wealth of information, tools, resources and a workplace assessment tool, all available for free. The platform is specifically designed for leaders and health and safety champions within the transport and logistics sector.
HARMfree Transport and Logistics was developed through a collaboration between NTA, NRC, Auto Sense, Fit for Duty Ltd, Success Formula, and with ACC Workplace Injury Prevention Grant funding and support, enhances workplace safety and worker wellbeing.