rtwi test round 3

Fill Out
Now
This is a preview of the RTWI - Grant Application Form (R3-26) form. When you’re ready to apply, click Fill Out Now to begin.
 

About Return to Work Innovation Trials - 2026

* indicates a required field.

Return to Work Innovations funding opportunity

Evidence suggests that work plays an important role in people’s health, wellbeing and sense of purpose. Following an injury, safe and supported return to work can help workers maintain social connections, financial security, confidence and routine, while supporting their recovery and long-term wellbeing. Research shows that the longer a person is away from work the less likely they are to successfully return, highlighting the importance of early intervention and effective support.  

Victorian industries and workplaces have different levels of capability, confidence and experience in supporting workers to achieve a safe and sustainable return to work following injury. They also face different return to work challenges and are at different stages of readiness to implement and embed effective return to work practices.  

WorkSafe’s Return to Work Innovations Program is seeking to fund Return to Work (RTW) Innovation Trials (Trials) of up to $1.25 million each, to be delivered over 2 years, within the following industries OR cohort: 

  • Manufacturing  
    • Food product  
    • Wood product 
    • Fabricated metal product 
    • Machinery and equipment 
  • Construction: 
    • Building construction 
    • Heavy and civil engineering construction 
    • Construction services 
  • Health Care and Social Assistance 
    • Hospitals 
    • Medical and other health care services 
    • Residential care services 
    • Social assistance services 
  • Workers from multicultural communities 
    • Manufacturing 
    • Construction 
    • Health Care & Social Assistance 

 

The Trials aim to drive system level change that transforms recovery and return to work outcomes for injured workers and employers. By testing and accelerating innovative approaches, the Trials will unlock new solutions to improve return to work systems such as processes, technology, workplace culture, and workforce capability. 

Through rigorous evaluation, the Trials will generate evidence on what works and establish leading practice in recovery and return to work. This evidence will be used throughout the trials to refine, expand and scale successful initiatives across industries, organisations and regions, accelerating their impact and reach. 

WorkSafe is seeking a lead agency to partner with who will establish and manage a consortium of partners to co-design and deliver a Trial within participating workplaces. 

The consortium will consist of: 

  • the applicant (Trial owner) 
  • an independent evaluation partner 
  • industry or sector bodies 
  • union representation, and  
  • subject matter experts. 

 

Click here to visit our home page and learn more about Return to Work Innovations and here to check out the specific guidelines for the Trials. 

Our work supports the five-year WorkSafe Victoria Strategy. The Strategy includes an aim to increase return to work rates through partnerships and highlights the importance of community collaborations in helping to achieve that goal. 

Before you apply

As the Victorian State election will be held on Saturday 28 November 2026, the Victorian Government will assume a caretaker role from 6.00pm on 3 November 2026 until such time that either it becomes clear that the incumbent Government will be returned, or when a new Government is commissioned. In line with the caretaker conventions, the incoming Government will determine whether to proceed with this grant process and award the grants after the caretaker period. Applicants should be aware that:  

 

  • all information about this grant process represents the position of the current Government only, and is subject to change  
  • the incoming Government may decide to not proceed with this grant process. 

Privacy

Please refer to the Collection Notice at the end of this application for information about how your personal information will be collected, used and disclosed. 

IMPORTANT !

Preparing your application: 

  1. Read the following resources: 
  2. Respond to all questions. 
  3. Press 'save' as you go. You can save, logout and return. 
  4. Upload all required documentation. 
  5. Refer to the 'How to apply' section in the Return to Work Innovation Trials guidelines.
  6. Submit your application via this platform (SmartyGrants) before the closing date and time. Incomplete applications and/or applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
  7. Please allow enough time to review and submit your application. SmartyGrants will not allow you to submit the form until any errors or missed responses are corrected/ completed. 
  8. Please provide evidence of consortium partners engagement for the proposed Trial. This should be a letter of Expression of Interest from the relevant senior leaders within the organisation. 
  9. Confirm your application has been submitted. You will see an on-screen confirmation message. Please also check that you receive the confirmation email with the time and date stamped PDF copy of your applicatio

Previous grant applicants have indicated that on average, even once they had prepared their application responses and supporting documentation, the process of uploading the content via the online platform took approximately 1-2 hours. 

Need help?

  • SmartyGrants can be contacted directly for technical questions about their platform on (03) 9320 6888 or via service@smartygrants.com.au. Have your application ID handy.  

Application requirements

Before completing this application form, applicants must read the Return to Work Innovation Trials Guidelines on the WorkSafe Victoria website.

I confirm I have read and understood the guidelines. * Required

Ineligible application (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "I confirm I have read and understood the guidelines." on page 1

Based on your responses, your application is not eligible to proceed.

Please refer to the Return to Work Innovations Trials Guidelines for more information on eligibility and exclusions.

If you have further questions, please email us at RTWInnovations@worksafe.vic.gov.au.

* Required
Response required.
No choices are available for this question.

Grant application Terms & Conditions (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "I confirm I have read and understood the guidelines." on page 1

The applicant agrees to the following terms and conditions when submitting their application:   

  • The determination of successful applicants, including the number of successful applications and amount funded is at WorkSafe’s sole discretion;  
  • the purposes for which documents issued by WorkSafe in connection with the application process may be used by the applicants for the sole purpose of applying– and that they are commercial in confidence;  
  • applications that are short-listed and/or entering into discussions with WorkSafe does not give rise to a contract (express or implied) between the funding recipient and WorkSafe. No legal relationship will exist between WorkSafe and any successful applicant unless and until a binding contract substantially in the form of the proposed funding agreement is executed by WorkSafe and the relevant successful applicant; and  
  • WorkSafe has sole discretion on how it manages queries relating to the application process (including the publication of answers) - if that information has not already been included elsewhere.  
I agree to the Terms and Conditions described above. * Required

Ineligible application (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "I agree to the Terms and Conditions described above." on page 1

Based on your responses, your application is not eligible to proceed.

Please refer to the Return to Work Innovations Trials Guidelines for more information on eligibility and exclusions.

If you have further questions, please email us at RTWInnovations@worksafe.vic.gov.au.

* Required
Response required.
No choices are available for this question.

Supporting Documentation

You will need to attach supporting documents as part of your application. You can upload these files in the relevant file attachment sections throughout the application form. 

Supporting documents include: 

  • References and/or relevant evidence that supports the challenge and your proposed approach. 
  • Letter of Expression of Interest (EOI) from your proposed consortium partners. 

Organisation eligibility (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "I agree to the Terms and Conditions described above." on page 1

Please review the Organisation requirements on page 20 of the Return to Work Innovation Trials Guidelines and respond to the following question.  

If you have any questions in regards to these eligibility criteria, please email us at RTWInnovations@worksafe.vic.gov.au.

Eligibility is subject to WorkSafe's determination in line with the eligibility criteria.

My organisation meets the organisation eligibility requirements as described within the Return to Work Innovation Trials Guideline requirements. * Required

Please review the Organisation exclusion criteria on pages 14 &15 of the Return to Work Innovation Trials Guidelines and respond to the following question.

I have read the application exclusion criteria in the Return to Work Trials Guidelines and confirm that my application doesn't meet any of the exclusion criteria. * Required

Ineligible application (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to questions:

  • "My organisation meets the organisation eligibility requirements as described within the Return to Work Innovation Trials Guideline requirements." on page 1
  • "I have read the application exclusion criteria in the Return to Work Trials Guidelines and confirm that my application doesn't meet any of the exclusion criteria." on page 1
  • "My organisation meets the organisation eligibility requirements as described within the Return to Work Innovation Trials Guideline requirements." on page 1
  • "I have read the application exclusion criteria in the Return to Work Trials Guidelines and confirm that my application doesn't meet any of the exclusion criteria." on page 1
  • "My organisation meets the organisation eligibility requirements as described within the Return to Work Innovation Trials Guideline requirements." on page 1
  • "I have read the application exclusion criteria in the Return to Work Trials Guidelines and confirm that my application doesn't meet any of the exclusion criteria." on page 1

Based on your responses, your application is not eligible to proceed.

Please refer to the Return to Work Innovation Trials Guidelines on pages 14 & 15 for more information on eligibility and exclusions.

If you have further questions, please email us at RTWInnovations@worksafe.vic.gov.au.

* Required
Response required.
No choices are available for this question.

If you answer YES to any of the following questions, you may not be eligible to apply for a grant: (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to questions:

  • "My organisation meets the organisation eligibility requirements as described within the Return to Work Innovation Trials Guideline requirements." on page 1
  • "I have read the application exclusion criteria in the Return to Work Trials Guidelines and confirm that my application doesn't meet any of the exclusion criteria." on page 1
The organisation applying for this grant is a Victorian Government Department? * Required
Victorian Government Departments (defined as any Department existing by virtue of an Order made under section 10 of the Public Administration Act 2004 (Vic))
The organisation applying for this grant is insured by ComCare * Required
The applicant applying for this grant is a sole trader * Required
The organisation applying for this grant is a WorkCover Agent * Required

Ineligible application (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to questions:

  • "The organisation applying for this grant is a Victorian Government Department?" on page 1
  • "The organisation applying for this grant is insured by ComCare" on page 1
  • "The applicant applying for this grant is a sole trader" on page 1
  • "The organisation applying for this grant is a WorkCover Agent" on page 1

Based on your responses, your application is not eligible to proceed.

Please refer to the Return to Work Innovation Trials Guidelines for more information on eligibility and exclusions.

If you have further questions, please email us at RTWInnovations@worksafe.vic.gov.au.

* Required
Response required.
No choices are available for this question.

Trial eligibility (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to questions:

  • "The organisation applying for this grant is a Victorian Government Department?" on page 1
  • "The organisation applying for this grant is insured by ComCare" on page 1
  • "The organisation applying for this grant is a WorkCover Agent" on page 1
  • "The applicant applying for this grant is a sole trader" on page 1

This section is designed to help you, and us, understand if your trial is eligible for this round of grant funding. 

It's crucial that you complete these questions before any others to ensure you are eligible before proceeding with the application. 

Please refer to the Return to Work Innovation Trials Guidelines for information on our funding principles and focus areas for the round. 

If you have any questions in regards to these eligibility criteria, please email the Return to Work Innovations: RTWInnovations@worksafe.vic.gov.au

The Trial can demonstrate alignment to the funding principles for this grant round * Required
The Trial and funding will be used for workers, employers or workplaces in the State of Victoria * Required

Ineligible application (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to questions:

  • "The Trial can demonstrate alignment to the funding principles for this grant round" on page 1
  • "The Trial and funding will be used for workers, employers or workplaces in the State of Victoria" on page 1

Based on your responses, your application is not eligible to proceed.

Please refer to the Return to Work Innovation Trial Guidelines for more information on eligibility and exclusions.

If you have further questions, please email us at RTWInnovations@worksafe.vic.gov.au.

* Required
Response required.
No choices are available for this question.