The Move Well Initiative – Reducing musculoskeletal injuries in the health and disability workforce

Written By Rosie Slader

Lead organisation:

MySkill

The Move Well Initiative aims to reduce the incidence and impact of musculoskeletal injuries within the disability support, home and community health services and mental health and addiction sectors. There are estimated to be over 200,000 New Zealanders employed in these sectors.  

The Move Well Initiative is a suite of ‘pick-up and use’ learning resources that will be available from June 2026. The initiative has three key elements that create a structured approach to reduce injuries:

  • Awareness drive   

  • Focus on leaders   

  • Skills for kaimahi   

WorkSafe estimates there were 26,139 “lifting and carrying injuries” in the health and disability sector in 2015. This equates to tens of thousands of workdays lost to injury and a significant impact on injured support workers, their whānau, and the people they support.   

The Move Well Initiative has an overall goal to improve service delivery benefitting the organisation, workforce and those they support The objectives include:   

  • Reduction in musculoskeletal injuries

  • Reduced days off due to injury   

  • Improved job satisfaction.   

Rosie Slader
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AI Development Initiative for disability support services