Daniel Andrews pencils in his comeback date

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’s colleagues have welcomed his planned return to work some 111 days after injuries to his back and six ribs left him unable to do so.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews takes a shot.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’s colleagues have welcomed his planned return to work some 111 days after injuries to his back and six ribs left him unable to do so.

Mr Andrews on Saturday confirmed he would be back at 1 Treasury Place on June 28, having almost recovered from his March 9 tumble down the stairs at a holiday home at Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula.

Health Minister Martin Foley on Sunday welcomed the news, saying the Premier had experienced a “pretty nasty injury” that he was overcoming with support from his medical team. “I really welcome the positive announcement he made last night, and I look forward to him coming back as soon as he is up to it,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Andrews said he had last week undergone a round of scans and met with his medical team at The Alfred hospital which gave him “some good news”.

“The broken vertebra has almost fully healed and they’re letting me take off the back brace,” he said. “That’s the brace I’ve worn for 18 hours a day for the last three months.

“The six broken ribs will take a while longer to finish healing and doctors tell me that between the ribs and getting used to not having the brace on, the next couple of weeks will be a painful adjustment.

“But overall, I’m feeling good and I’ve been given the all clear to return to work on Monday, 28 June. I’m looking forward to it.”

Mr Andrews thanked his wife, Cath, and their three children, as well as the nurses, doctors, paramedics and physiotherapists who had provided him with care.

“I’m grateful to (Deputy Premier) James Merlino for stepping in to lead the government and the state through a really difficult time – he’s done an amazing job.

“And finally, a special thanks to the tens of thousands of Victorians – especially all the kids – who’ve sent cards and letters and emails.”

On Sunday, Mr Andrews urged Victorians to get vaccinated, posting a picture on social media of himself receiving the Pfizer jab at The Alfred last week.

“If you can, you must,” he said. “Let’s beat this, Victoria.”

The announcement of Mr Andrews’s planned return to work comes after Ambulance Victoria last week issued a timeline of its treatment of him on March 9, following a call from Coalition Treasury spokeswoman Louise Staley for Mr Andrews to address “unanswered questions” regarding the incident.