We've been busy navigating ourselves around local and regional
locations, checking in and out of hotels and airport lounges, and
most importantly, we've been checking in with you.
Seminars and work shops have taken us across the state, providing
invaluable opportunities for us to touch base and hear about your
challenges and successes.
We've thoroughly enjoyed the experiences over the past couple of
months and hope that you too have benefited from getting to know us
better.
Here's a snapshot of our time away.
Working together
The 'Working together' rehabilitation and return to work seminars
held by Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ), Q-COMP,
WorkCover Qld and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ)
gave RRTWCs insight into managing the cost of injuries, reducing
premiums and provided some practical guidelines for improving
rehabilitation programs.
There were many highlights, including CCIQ's Workplace Health and
Safety Principal Advisor, Steve Griffiths talk about the way in
which leaders behave can influence rehabilitation outcomes.
Steve's message is that front line managers usually have the
initial contact with the injured worker and what managers say and
how they respond to the injured worker is really critical to the
outcomes of the injury.
Managers who are unsupportive of injured workers due to
defensiveness or lack of knowledge have a significant negative
impact on rehabilitation outcomes.
Research conducted by the Cooperative Research Centre for
Construction Innovation in Queensland identified three areas in
which a Manager needs to be proficient:
- Knowledge of the importance of rehabilitation and the rehab
process.
- Good interpersonal skills to be able to demonstrate
empathy.
- Attitudes and beliefs to underpin their knowledge and
skills.
Senior managers need to communicate to line managers exactly
what behaviours are expected of them for example taking the worker
to the doctor instead of sending him or her off in a taxi. They
need to monitor and reward desired behaviours and lead by example
at all times.
Demonstrating compassion and support for injured workers results
in less time off work and improved rehabilitation outcomes.
Networking opportunities
'Integrating WHS & Injury Management' workshops run by the
Regional Government Agency Network (RGAN) were held simultaneously
at the 'Working together' seminars and were successful at not only
providing attendees with valuable information, but with a wonderful
networking opportunity to mix with other RRTWCs in the area.
If you work for state or local government and you haven't been to
your local RGAN meeting you can contact whsregan@justice.qld.gov.au
to be added to the email list.
Meetings are held four times a year and even if you can't make it,
the latest information will be sent directly to your inbox.
Spotting and avoiding roadblocks in return to
work
We presented an interactive session about spotting and avoiding
roadblocks in RTW.
In this workshop, we worked with WHSQ to demonstrate that
integrating primary prevention and injury management through an
early intervention approach can achieve positive return to work or
stay at work outcomes when managing injury and illness in the
workplace.
