The Health Benefits of Good Work^® (HBGW) is an initiative from the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM) of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). This initiative is based on compelling Australasian and international evidence that good work is beneficial to people’s health and wellbeing and that long term work absence, work disability and unemployment generally have a negative impact on health and wellbeing.

AFOEM has produced a number of policy documents which outline this evidence and the HBGW philosophy more broadly including:

• Helping people return to work Position Statement (2010)
• Realising the Health Benefits of Work (2011)
• Realising the Health Benefits of Good Work Consensus Statement (2022)
• Health Benefits of Work Evidence Update (2015) 
• Improving workplace health and workplace productivity (2013)
• What is good work? Position Statement (2013)
• Health Benefits of Good Work Charter of Principles (2022)

More HBGW Resources

The RACP and AFOEM are committed to advancing the HBGW philosophy across the health and industry sectors. To this end, AFOEM is establishing a number of committees to progress this initiative across stakeholder groups.

The HBGW Stakeholder Executive Group

AFOEM established the HBGW Stakeholder Executive Group in September 2014 to determine the strategic direction for the implementation of the Health Benefits of Good Work^® into the industry and health sectors to advance AFOEM's policy in this area.

To develop and implement coordinated initiatives two Signatory Steering Groups were formed — one in Australia and one in Aotearoa New Zealand. Both report to the HBGW Stakeholder Executive Group.

The HBGW Australian Signatories Steering Group

In January 2015, a Signatory Steering Group (HBGW Australian SSG) was established in Australia. The Australian SSG comprises 34 members from a range of stakeholders including statutory authorities, healthcare organisations, re/insurers and national employers. Members were selected following a competitive Expression of Interest process open to all Australian signatories to the Consensus Statement.

The purpose of the HBGW Australian SSG is to further champion the integration of the HBGW policy agenda in the industry sector. It has developed into a forum to share information and collaborate on initiatives that will enable organisations to implement HBOW programs as well as champion improvements throughout industry.

All member organisations have agreed to contribute to:

• implementing strategies developed by the HBGW Stakeholder Executive Group
• progressing the integration of the health benefits of good work policy agenda as set out in the Consensus and Position Statements across stakeholder groups with a focus on industry sectors and government authorities
• facilitating growth of the Consensus Statement signatory base
• contributing to the HBGW evidence base
• supporting advocacy for continuous improvement in public policy around work and health through ongoing structured and formalised dialogue
• identifying exemplar organisations, sharing information and collaborating on initiatives that enable organisations to implement HBGW programs
• championing policy improvements within industry
• working collectively and in partnership to safeguard the integrity of the HBGW initiative

The HBGW Aotearoa New Zealand Signatories Steering Group

AFOEM has established the HBGW Aotearoa New Zealand Signatories' Steering Group (AoNZ SSG). This provides a unique opportunity for trans-Tasman collaboration to spread the Health Benefits of Good Work^® message across both countries.

Australian Health Benefits of Good Work Signatories Steering Group - Harnessing the Health Benefits of Good Work

Consensus Statements, HBGW Charter of Principles and Signatories

Health Benefits of Good Work^® Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand consensus statement

The purpose of the Health Benefits of Good Work Consensus Statement is to bring together a wide range of stakeholder signatories, who each affirm the importance of work as a determinant of health and commit to:

• promoting an understanding of good work and its associated health benefits
• offering support and encouragement to those attempting to access the Health Benefits of Good Work™
• encouraging all participants to support workplace health
• advocating for continuous improvement in public policy around work and health, consistent with the principles articulated above.

Charter of HBGW Principles

AFOEM has developed the Health Benefits of Good Work Charter of Principles (2018) (DOC) which draws out the key principles from the HBGW philosophy. This Charter is intended for all Signatories to display in their own facilities to reaffirm their commitment to the principles outlined in the Consensus Statement and companion position statements and the importance good work can play in contributing to people’s health and wellbeing.

Current HBGW signatories

Health Benefits of Good Work® signatories can find the Health Benefits of Good Work® logo (JPG) here.

Become a HBGW signatory organisation

How to become a signatory flyer

Apply Online

Spread the HBGW message

The Faculty continues to grow the Health Benefits of Good Work signatory list and welcomes your support. Please distribute and promote the Consensus Statements widely and add them to your own website to spread the word!

Consensus Statement on the Health Benefits of Good Work 2017 

Australian HBGW Signatories Steering Group flyer 

The role of General Practitioners

Whilst Occupational and Environmental Physicians (OEPs) provide specialist knowledge to ensure a healthy, productive workforce and connect a workplace with the diverse range of health services necessary to optimise the health and wellbeing of employees, most often, the care of injured or ill workers is managed day-to-day by General Practitioners (GPs) who play a key role in assisting them return to work. As such, GPs are well placed to advise and educate workers that, in most cases, a focus on return to work is in their best interest - for both their future quality of life and that of their family.

Return to work is not possible for everyone, but certifying time off work - particularly when absence is long term - can have significant side effects, including increased rates of overall mortality, poorer physical health and poorer mental health and psychological well being.

Simple messages delivered in the clinical environment can encourage workers to develop evidence-based views of the relationship between health and work.

Evidence-based messages:

• The longer someone is off work, the less chance they have of ever returning
• Most common health conditions will not be ‘cured' by treatment
• Good work is a therapeutic intervention, it is part of treatment
• Typically, waiting for recovery delays recovery
• Staying away from work may lead to depression, isolation and poorer health, and
• Employer-supported, early return to work helps recovery, prevents de-conditioning and helps provide patients with appropriate social contacts and support mechanisms.

Practical ways of assisting patients back to employment and optimum functioning include:

• Recommending a graduated increase in activity and setting a timeline for return to work where practicable
• Talking to the employer (preferably while the patient is with you), especially about how to modify the workplace and work duties to allow return to work
• Collaboratively identifying obstacles and solutions in the workplace
• Being clear about what health care can and can not achieve, and
• Identifying possible sources of support, including family members, co-workers and relevant government services.

Read the What is Good Work? Position Statement (2013)

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