INTERNATIONAL FORUM TOLD OF QUEENSLAND STRATEGIES FOR REHABILITATION OF INJURED WORKERS

An international forum heard today that the Queensland Government is seeking to improve awareness among employers of effective rehabilitation and return-to-work strategies for injured workers.

Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel told the 3rd International Forum for Disability Management in Brisbane that strategies focusing on the prevention of workplace injury and disease are an essential ingredient of a successful workers’ compensation scheme.

“Queensland has a reputation as a leader among Australia's workers compensation schemes, however we are still working to improve the participation in, and awareness of, effective rehabilitation and return-to-work strategies,” Mr Mickel said.

Hosted by the Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, the forum brought together 300 employers, trade unionists, politicians, government officials, insurers, advocates for persons with disabilities, service providers and researchers from around the world to find ways to address the human and economic costs of injury and disability.
“People with work injuries can make a significant contribution to the performance of any organisation and the community, but there are often differences between compensation, social assistance and disability management systems within and between countries,” he said.
“This forum provided an opportunity to exchange ideas on how we can maximise cooperation between these systems to assist people to re-enter employment as soon as possible.”
Mr Mickel told the forum that Queensland’s major workers’ compensation insurer, WorkCover Queensland already works closely with employers to help them develop and implement return-to-work strategies.

“Recently, the Queensland Government in co-operation with industry stakeholders introduced industry-based retraining and rehabilitation across a range of high-risk industries for workers unable to return to their previous employment or occupation.

“WorkCover Queensland also has a Host Employer Program where an employer hosts an injured worker at their workplace when the worker is unable to participate in rehabilitation activities with their original employer.

“While these initiatives have been successful, we want to encourage employers to focus even more on implementing early intervention and safe, early return-to-work for injured workers with their pre-injury employer.”

He said rehabilitation maximises a person's potential for return to their pre-injury physical, psychological, educational and vocational level.

“When the emphasis is placed on returning the worker to safe, suitable work at the earliest possible time valuable work skills are not lost, minimising the human and financial costs of work injury.”

Benefits for employers include less down time and lost productivity; reduced absenteeism and shortage of skilled workers; reduced training costs and use of casual staff; reduced claims costs and lower workers’ compensation insurance premiums; and improved industrial relations and workplace morale.

Benefits for workers include faster recovery and reduced suffering; minimal disruption to family, social and working life; improved physical condition, confidence and self-esteem about returning to work; earlier return to productive work; and job and financial security.

Media inquiries: Chris Brown (07) 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion (07) 3224 6784

11 October 2006