icare’s venture arm icare Foundation is awarding $5 million to eight organisations to help injured workers overcome complex barriers in returning to work.

Some 25% of workers who don’t return to work within the first 13 weeks of being injured have much lower chances of returning to work, icare Foundation General Manager Barney Smith says. More than 90 organisations made applications to icare.

More than 8000 people in NSW were off work for longer than three months last year, according to its insurance claims data, and the numbers are rising.

“There is a need to explore improved support for the complex personal and social barriers these injured workers must overcome in order to return to work,” Mr Smith said. “We know that prolonged unemployment during a person’s productive years can seriously impact on the quality of life of injured individuals and their families.

"By improving the support for recovering workers in NSW, we can make a profound difference to their lives.”