Onwards & Upwards. The 2012 Return to work Conference, Expo & Awards
Michael was working as a horse-breaker at the time of his injury, when a 500kg horse he was working with reared and fell on him. Despite his substantial injuries, Michael was determined to get back into the workforce and with the support of Return to work assist completed a Certificate III in carpentry, passing with flying colours. Although he still sometimes experiences pain from his injuries, Michael is now happily selfemployed as a carpenter specialising in home maintenance and improvements.
On his way home from work, Michael crashed his bike - breaking his leg in several places, requiring weeks in hospital and six months in an external frame fixator which severely restricted his mobility. Unable to work, and having to move house to accommodate his injury, Michael struggled to overcome the changes to his lifestyle. After months of rehabilitation and the support of his employer and WorkCover Queensland customer advisor, Michael is now back at work.
Jamie was a boilermaker and had worked in construction for twelve years when a 2.5 tonne steel beam collapsed on him at a work site crushing both his legs. Despite multiple surgeries and ongoing pain, Jamie was determined to get out of the house and back to work. Unable to meet the physical requirements of boilermaking, Jamie pursued his passion to become a tattoo artist and organised his own work placement while still recovering from his injuries.
Stephen finds satisfaction in assisting injured workers and their families in his role with WorkCover Queensland. Stephen feels that the return to work journey also includes taking the time to reassure and guide the worker's family during a period of emotional upheaval. This commitment and compassion has made Stephen the great case manager he is today.
Golden Cockerel is a Queensland business involved in poultry processing and pet food manufacturing. At Golden Cockerel, innovative ideas and a commitment to education and rehabilitation are a key focus which has helped the company not only increase their return to work rate, but also to decrease their premiums. Golden Cockerel gives their workers the tools they need to make a full and healthy return to work.
Watch Golden Cockerel's video.
Ramsay Health Care is committed to promoting a safe work environment and supporting all their employees in their rehabilitation and return to work journeys. Ramsay Health Care believes that early intervention and return to work commitment is the key to achieving the best possible outcomes for employees and the organisation. This proactive approach is the cornerstone of Ramsay Health Care's success in the return to work field.
Watch Ramsay Health Care's video.
The underlying theme of return to work management at Kmart is people management, not liability management Kmart places an emphasis on early intervention and 'stay at work' practices to help injured workers feel part of their own rehabilitation team from day one. Kmart's innovation and whole-of-business approach to return to work makes them a fantastic example of commitment to return to work outcomes.
Watch Kmart Australia's video.
Gianina's role at Qantas provides her with the opportunity to build strong relationships with individuals who need support during a difficult period in their life. Gianina educates on the importance of preventing injury and is instrumental in encouraging staff to participate in wellness programs. Each day, Gianina starts work with the sole aim of improving the lives of her injured workers, with the goal of returning them back to work as quickly as possible.
Having worked on a mine site himself, Mark is especially committed to the rehabilitation and return to work of those he manages at DPSA Holdings. Mark feels that a positive outcome is more likely to occur when all parties are working towards a common goal. Mark is often the intermediary between injured workers and management, and he gets great satisfaction in finding solutions to please everybody.
