EML Victoria has developed two services to give extra support to injured workers at key times – when they are transitioning from the workers compensation scheme (transition support) and when their injury or life circumstances are complex (recovery case management).
For both services, we partner with a range of organisations to link people to a variety of supports, such as housing, financial, family, social and community and counselling and treatment.
Transition support is usually offered in the six months leading up to the end of a claim at 130-weeks, and career counselling is also offered so the person can seek employment independently, if that is still a goal for them. Recovery case management focusses on working through barriers throughout the life of a person’s claim.
Recovery case managers identify key barriers to recovery, such as addiction, domestic violence, homelessness or lack of culturally specific services.
Plans are tailored to meet an individual’s needs. Supporting people with these fundamental needs is critical before someone can contemplate return to work whilst they recover from injury.
One example of recovery case management in action, which can be offered at any stage of the person’s claim, is through the story of Aoife, aged 27.
Visiting Australia from Ireland, Aoife fell four metres from a roof whilst doing solar light installation on her first day on the job. She had hospital treatment for factures, injuring her elbow, pelvis, lower back and ribs, and had internal bleeding.
Her recovery case manager, Rachel, worked to quickly build trust and rapport with Aoife and worked with treaters at the hospital to understand limitations and recovery timeframes.
Rachel visited Aoife, aware that her mental health had deteriorated quickly during the most acute part of her recovery which occurred over Christmas.
Rachel worked to address issues of social isolation, insecure housing and financial support to help Aoife recover physically and mentally.
"I'm very grateful,” Aoife said. “I couldn't have done it without the support as my family and friends are overseas."
Aoife has been able to stay in Australia and her recovery is progressing well – she has returned to work in teaching.
“The services were piloted through our Mutual Benefits Program, and we know they work,” says David Pickering, General Manager of EML Victoria. “They are now part of our day-to-day operational model and funded by EML.”