Return to work is part of the recovery
WorkCover SA’s second annual innovative return to work and injury management conference, Return to work is part of the recovery: Working together for best practice injury management was held on Thursday 20 September 2007 at the Hilton Adelaide Hotel.
Return to work is part of recovery conference photo gallery [1.45MB]
Conference DVD
A DVD of the Return to work is part of recovery conference has been produced and includes:
- Keynote session 1 - Return to work initiatives through innovative partnerships and health care management: Best practice disability management (Dr Sally Nikolaj)
- Keynote session 2 – Improving recovery and return to work outcomes: Victoria’s experience (Mr Greg Tweedly)
- Interviewing techniques that assist return to work (Sharon Bent)
- Medical panels: How they work (Dr Peter Lothwian)
- Psychological benefits of return to work (Dr Doron Samuell).
If you would like to purchase a copy of Return to work is part of recovery conference DVD please contact the SafeWork SA bookshop or download an order form. The DVD set costs $15 + GST (2 discs).
Keynote presentations
Best practice disability management: A Canadian perspective
Presenter: Dr Sally Nikolaj – President, Nikolaj Consulting, Canada
Dr Nikolaj is a recognised leader and international expert in the health care and
rehabilitation field, with more than 24 years’ experience in clinical service delivery within workers compensation, motor vehicle insurance, disability management and health care organisations. Dr Nikolaj spoke about return to work initiatives through innovative partnerships and health care management.
Improving recovery and return to work outcomes: Victoria’s experience
Presenter: Mr Greg Tweedly – CEO, Victorian WorkCover Authority
Mr Greg Tweedly was appointed Chief Executive of Victoria’s WorkCover Authority (VWA) in February 2003. Victoria’s unfunded liability reached $2.982 billion (65 per cent funding level) when he was appointed. Since then, WorkCover Victoria has improved return to work rates significantly and the scheme is now fully-funded. Mr Tweedly spoke about Victoria’s experience in improving recovery and return to work outcomes.
Workshop presentations
Achieving return to work: What are the drivers across workers compensation systems in Australia?
Presenter/s: Tim Bourne, Principal, Bourne Lawyers and Mark Calligeros, Partner, Minter Ellison
This workshop explained how schemes operate in other States, outlining the differences between South Australia and other jurisdictions. It also outlined how those differences impact on improving return to work rates.
An insight into the claims management experience: An employer’s perspective
Presenter/s: Employer, Robyn Ormsby, Fletchers Freighters
Robyn is responsible for managing the organisation’s OHS and workers compensation claims. Since taking on the role Robyn has used the information and knowledge she gained from attending workshops on effectively managing workers compensation claims to improve return to work rates at Fletchers Freighters. This workshop took delegates through the processes she used to achieve successful return to work of a long-term injured worker.
An insight into the claims management experience: An injured worker’s perspective
Presenter/s: Injured worker – Melissa Lamb
Most people who suffer from a debilitating injury feel the effect in their working and
personal lives. This was the experience faced by Melissa Lamb, who injured her shoulder in October 2004. This workshop took delegates through Melissa’s journey and outlined how she successfully returned to work after overcoming a number of obstacles.
Employers Mutual's case management model
Presenter/s: Anthony Fleetwood, CEO, Employers Mutual SA
In this workshop Anthony Fleetwood outlined Employers Mutual’s claims management model and explained how it has been specifically designed to be effective in South Australia.
Medical panels: how they work in Victoria
Presenter/s: Dr Peter Lothwian, Deputy Convenor, Medical Panel, Victoria
Some States have established medical panels to help resolve disputes related to
medical issues in the workers compensation environment. This workshop focused on how the Victorian medical panel was established, outlined how it operates in Victoria and described the results achieved towards a better functioning scheme.
Motivational interviewing techniques for improving return to work outcomes
Presenter/s: Sharon Bent, Psychologist, Bent Psychology
This workshop explained the motivational drivers and techniques that can be used to improve return to work rates.
Navigating the South Australian Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme
Presenter/s: Wayne Potter, General Manager, Workplace Injury, WorkCover SA and Darryl Turner, Manager Client Services, Employers Mutual SA
This workshop aimed to help delegates understand how the Scheme operates, the usual claim life cycle, and explain how to navigate through the Scheme.
Psychological benefits of return to work
Presenter/s: Dr Doron Samuell, Consultant Psychiatrist and Director of ‘Professional Opinions’
Returning to work provides psychological benefits for injured workers from increasing recovery rates through to providing social support networks established in the workplace. This workshop outlined the benefits of return to work for injured workers and employers and provided suggestions on how to improve return to work outcomes for long-term claimants.
What happens when a dispute is lodged with the Workers Compensation Tribunal?
Presenter/s: Tas Carabelas, Senior Lawyer, WorkCover SA
Employers and injured workers have the right to dispute a determination or decision
made about a workers rehabilitation and compensation claim. This workshop looked at the dispute resolution process for workers rehabilitation and compensation matters.
WorkCover Board’s legislative proposal and the independent review of workers compensation
Presenter/s: Ryan Orange, General Manager, Strategy, WorkCover SA and Benjamin Sporton, Team Leader, Policy, WorkCover SA
Since 2003 WorkCover SA has undertaken significant reforms to improve the Scheme. Further reforms are being considered. On 29 March 2007, the Government announced an independent review of the South Australian workers rehabilitation and compensation legislation. This workshop explored WorkCover SA’s proposed reforms.
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