Highlights from the Australian Rehabilitation Providers Conference

One of our Senior Rehabilitation Advisors, Jo Harris, recently made a trip to Sydney to attend the Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association(ARPA) Conference to learn more about the latest trends in rehabilitation and return to work.

The conference theme 'Wisdom and Innovation' was chosen by ARPA because these attributes are critical to the success in helping injured workers stay or return to work.

The conference aim was to shift the focus from an injured worker's limitations to their human potential, enabling that person to contribute their skills and productivity to the workplace.

Two interesting presentations included:

Is work good for you?

The presentation was delivered by Professor Sir Mansel Aylward who discussed how work is good for our health and how long periods of time without working, 'is one of the greatest known risks to public health'.

He highlighted that not working for long periods of time:

• Has a health risk equivalent to smoking 10 packs of cigarettes per day;
• Increases the suicide rate in young men more than forty times;
• Increases the general suicide rate six times;
• Has a health risk and life expectancy reduction greater than many "killer diseases"; and
• Is riskier than the most dangerous jobs (for example, construction, or working on the North Sea)."

This information has since been supplemented by research that demonstrates the health benefits of work providing a solid evidence-base for the UK's ongoing reforms around health and work.

Have we dropped the ball in return to work?

The answer according to Professor Greg Murphy from La Trobe University is yes!

Professor Murphy argued that current return to work rates are sub-optimal and we can do better which confirms the National Return to Work Monitor finding that durable return to work rates throughout Australia are falling and have been for some time.

A study by Young in 2010 found that a poor supervisor/subordinate relationship is more prevalent in non-return to work.

Suggestions on how you can enhance durable return to work include:

· Involve injured workers in developing return to work plans (a study by Dr Mary Wyatt shows only half the injured workers surveyed had been consulted).

· Ensure there is supervisor and co-worker support for the injured worker

· Provide thoughtful job adaptations (eg suitable duties, provision of equipment, modify the job to remove hazards)

· Ensure there is early communication between the workplace and health professionals involved in the worker's treatment and care.

If you would like to access further information about the conference please visit the Australian Rehabilitation Providers Conference Association website.