RETURN TO WORK FUND

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. What projects have been approved for the second round of the Return to Work Fund to assist and educate South Australian employers and workers about how to safely remain at work after sustaining a workplace injury or return to work as soon as possible if time away from work is required?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (14:51): I would like to emphasise that the best outcome that can be achieved following a workplace accident is that the worker who sustained an injury remains at work, with appropriate treatment, either on the same or alternative duties. If the worker needs time away from work as part of their recovery, then the best outcome for the worker and the employer is an early return to work.

All parties involved in the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme need to employ best practice injury management and find better ways of working together so that injured workers remain at work or achieve healthier return-to-work outcomes. To support this effort, WorkCover SA and the government established the $15 million Return to Work Fund in 2009. The aim of the fund is to implement initiatives that contribute to supporting an injured worker to recover at work or, in the case of lost time, improve return-to-work outcomes. The second round of the Return to Work Fund was advertised on Tuesday 3 November 2009, with expressions of interest closing on 30 June 2010. I am advised that 43 expressions of interest were received and 18 completed their assessment. From these, five projects have been approved.

I am advised that Employment Accelerators will undertake a pilot project called Back on Track, in which they will work with 10 injured workers to develop lifelong skills, self-initiated drive and real employment outcomes. MS Vocational Services have been funded to undertake the Reinvent Yourself—Life After Injury project. Group programs will be provided for up to 96 injured worker participants working with qualified and experienced health educators, facilitators and guest speakers who have recovered from injury. The programs will focus on attitudinal healing and change for participants.

Beckman & Associates are running a project called Families Working Together. They will provide family-based counselling and education for injured workers. Up to 20 families will be engaged in this pilot project to identify the importance of family support in the recovery and return-to-work process. Mindful Movement Physiotherapy will undertake a project entitled Moving Mindfully Towards Health. It is intended that the program aim to create positive physical and psychological change in injured workers through participation in a structured program. I believe 20 injured workers will be referred by general practitioners from the Adelaide Hills and general practitioner partners' networks to an eight-week program of 30 hours.

The Master Builders Association of South Australia will undertake a project called Achieving Cultural Change in the Construction Industry. The project is designed to better understand the drivers of, and address barriers to, injured workers remaining at work or returning to work in the construction industry. The program, led by its own industry association, will assist trade contractors to better support the rehabilitation of injured workers.

Finally, the Australian Institute for Social Research is evaluating and reporting on the outcomes achieved to date by the Return to Work Fund, including its individual projects and associated programs. I understand the report for the year ending 30 June 2010 is available on the WorkCover website.