House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Return to Work Fund RETURN TO WORK FUND The Hon. S.W. KEY House of Assembly Ashford RETURN TO WORK FUND The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:40): My question is for the Minister for Industrial Relations. How is the government assisting improvements to return-to-work outcomes for injured workers? The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly Colton Minister for Agriculture Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Forests Minister for Regional Development RETURN TO WORK FUND The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development) (15:41): I thank the member for Ashford for her question and acknowledge her lifelong commitment to advancing the interests and wellbeing of workers. The state government is continuing to place a most significant focus on improving return-to-work outcomes for injured workers following workplace injury. The $15 million Return to Work Fund is an initiative that provides a mechanism for funding innovative projects designed to improve return-to-work outcomes for injured workers in our state. I am advised that the next round of funding is due to be launched in October and will include projects aimed at providing support to the families of injured workers and to look at ways that WorkCover can more closely work with local organisations to better support injured workers during the recovery process. Ahead of the annual WorkCover conference held last week, I had the privilege of— The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting: The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly The Hon. P. CAICA: You didn't get one? The Hon. I.F. Evans House of Assembly The Hon. I.F. Evans: No. The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly The Hon. P. CAICA: Well, I absolutely apologise for that, Iain, because you know that I am much better than that. I will check why that did not happen, and I will get on to it and make sure that it never happens again. I thank the member for the interjection, because I will fix that. Ahead of the annual WorkCover conference last week, I had the privilege of presenting the awards at the Recovery and Return to Work Awards. I presume the same thing applies there for the member for Davenport, that he never got an invite to the award night either. The Recovery and Return to Work Awards is another important initiative that promotes return-to-work messages which acknowledge the efforts of injured workers, employers, health and rehabilitation providers and case managers who have achieved outstanding results in injury management and return to work. These awards, now in their third year, remain unique in Australia as the only dedicated awards program that acknowledges significant achievements in this field. In total, there were 23 finalist from seven categories in the awards, all of whom had inspirational stories to tell. I was especially pleased to present the Worker Achievement Award, won jointly this year by Matthew Ervin and Grace Neate. I was informed that Mr Ervin's injury occurred when he was heading for a break and stopped to help a fellow worker in the pans area of the refinery in which he worked. The cover of the pipe access hole he stepped on was not fully closed and his foot was immersed in a 540° molten metal bath. Mr Ervin was forced to endure significant pain and extensive treatment over the following two years; but, with the support of his employer, Mr Ervin returned to work six months after the injury and is gradually increasing his hours of work and is hoping to return to his full pre-injury shifts in the near future. Commendably, Mr Ervin has also used his experience as the basis for a training package which delivers recovery and return-to-work safety messages. The other winner of the Worker Achievement Award, Ms Neate, I am told was just 17 years old when she slipped over at her after-school job at a florist. While washing a heavy vase she twisted and lost balance. The vase shattered, and Ms Neate fell and severed tendons, nerves and an artery in her wrist. Now, almost 2½ years after the injury, Ms Neate continues to attend checkups. In Ms Neate's case, it is important to note that her injury occurred at the most challenging time, as she was on the brink of year 12 studies. It took an enormous amount of courage on her part to manage study commitments along with the stresses caused by the injury. To Ms Neate's great credit, she performed exceptionally well in completing year 12. She is now studying psychology at university and is working in another part-time job where she has recently taken on duties as a team leader. These were just a couple of the inspirational stories emanating from the 2009 awards and they serve as a constant reminder that recovery from workplace injury and return to meaningful and satisfying work is a responsibility shared between all participants—and I emphasise 'all participants'—in the WorkCover scheme. On behalf of all members, I extend congratulations to all the Recovery and Return to Work Award winners for 2009.