Workplace Rehabilitation

We promote the health benefits of good work by supporting workers to return to suitable work after injury or illness. We look to balance the interests of workers, employers, insurers and other stakeholders by setting transparent and realistic goals and maintaining effective communication throughout the return to work process.

An assessment of a worker’s capacity for returning to work is a dynamic yet objective process linking work capacity with availability of duties. If a new employment direction is determined to be medically necessary, a worker’s skills and employment history are matched with the labour market to set new employment directions.

Why Refer?

• To establish sustainable employment directions for workers having difficulty returning to their pre-injury position.
• To promote a worker’s understanding and awareness of their own strengths and limitations.
• To educate and improve a worker’s understanding of legislative requirements.

A Worksite Assessment is an objective assessment of the physical or psychological requirements or demands of a particular job (task analysis) or aspects of that job, as well as the environment the job is undertaken in.

Why Refer?

• To identify and design suitable duties for an injured worker and implement a return to work plan. It can also assist employers to understand their obligations in providing suitable employment to injured workers.
• To provide functional education to the injured employee on appropriate strategies for the management of their injury.
• To advise on the need for workplace modifications or equipment.
• To provide Treating Doctors / Treatment Providers with information to assist in the treatment program to facilitate resolution of injury.

A Medical Case Conference involves the attendance by Axis Injury Management at a medical review with the worker to facilitate discussion with the treating practitioner, be that with the treating doctor or other health professional. A Medical Case Conference occurs regularly throughout the course of a workplace rehabilitation program and is instrumental in delivering a cohesive return to work program.

Why Refer?

• To develop a collaborative approach with the worker and their treating doctor or other health professional.
• To promote discussion about the vocational goals and agreement on how to achieve them. This helps ensure that all parties are working towards that goal, and there is clear alignment between the treatment and employment goals.
• To review treatment efficacy and outcomes, and provide support to implement Nominated Treating Doctor recommendations related to Treatment and medical investigations.
• Provide Nominated Treating Doctor with Worksite Assessment information and discuss proposals for Suitable Duties and Return to Work programs.

Psychological injury claims make-up a significant proportion of claims costs both within the NSW Workers Compensation System and the Australia Federal Government (Comcare) Workers Compensation System. Psychological Injury claims can have a devastating impact on the injured individual and their families.

Axis Injury Management strives to ensure a coordinated and cohesive approach to treatment for injured workers and ensure Return to Work and treatment goals are integrated. Close liaison with the treatment professionals / Treating Doctor / Treating Specialist is conducted to ensure appropriateness of the Return to Work goals.

Why Refer?

• Psychological injuries tend to be complex in nature and can result from a number of different workplace issues.
• Axis Injury Management employs a team Psychologists and Rehabilitation Counsellors who all possess extensive skills and experience to allow them to effectively assess, manage and assist clients with Psychological injuries in their recovery from injury and return to the workforce.
• Educating the workplace on what to expect when an individual with Psychological Injury returns to the workplace and the best ways to support their employee in this situation.
• To provide rehabilitation counselling support and facilitate communication between the treatment providers.

The aim of early intervention services is to assist in preventing workplace injuries, assist in addressing employers’ concerns regarding their employees’ health and welfare in order to prevent disciplinary actions, and to minimise workplace disruptions and absenteeism.

Early Intervention services encompass a wide variety of different services, with the aim of assisting workplaces to prevent workplace injuries, assist employees who may not be coping in the workplace and/or to assist Employee’s return to the workplace following periods of extended leave.

Early Intervention Services can include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Initial Assessment of needs and barriers to effective work;
• Liaison with medical treatment providers;
• Workstation and Worksite Assessments;
• Interpersonal skills and communication training;
• Assistance to determine the causes for, and manage absenteeism;
• Psychological illness education;
• Development of graduated work schedules for employees returning to work following extended leave;
• Coaching and mentoring;
• Liaison with and referral to appropriate treatment providers.

Rehabilitation Counselling involves the provision of specific counselling services to assist a worker address the psychological, familial, social and emotional impacts of work injury. It can help a worker with developing coping strategies to manage the demands that an injury creates in daily activities of living. It can also complement more specific psychological counselling treatment.

Why Refer?

• To help address a worker’s management of specific demands of a work injury, including adjusting to chronic illness and disability and to the changes in social interactions created by injury and illness.
• To assist a worker to understand the broader impact of disability on the people around them and to develop strategies to manage that impact.
• To support a graded Return to Work program following psychological injury or catastrophic injury.

What can you expect from Axis Injury Management?

• Expert assessment of new vocational directions.
• Highly experienced and dedicated Job Placement Consultants.
• Detailed knowledge of the local labour market.
• Guaranteed work placement opportunities.