WORKCOVER

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:56): My question is to the acting Minister for Workers Rehabilitation. What is WorkCover doing to recognise excellence in rehabilitation and return to work, and what did the WorkCover annual conference deliver?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for her very important question. The government is committed to ensuring that South Australian injured workers are supported to remain at work wherever possible or, if time off is required, to return to work quickly and safely. Being at work is critical for the health and wellbeing of injured workers, and the longer a worker is away from work the harder it is to return.

Through its annual awards program WorkCover recognises the outstanding efforts and achievements of injured workers, their employers and others who assist them in remaining at or returning to work. The seventh Recovery and Return to Work Awards was held last Tuesday 4 September 2012 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. This year WorkCover received 110 applications for the awards, with 27 selected as finalists across seven categories.

The stories from this year's finalists include: a cabinetmaker whose hand was caught in a grinder, resulting in the amputation of three fingers; an advocate who uses a wheelchair and who suffered an elbow injury, which further limited her overall mobility; and a mature-age apprentice chef who injured her knee, preventing her from carrying out the work she loved in the kitchen. The finalists' stories provided an insight into the far-reaching impact an injury can have on a worker, their families, friends, employers and work colleagues. They also highlight the key importance of a supportive employer, showing that truly amazing recoveries are possible when everybody works together.

The awards were followed yesterday by the annual WorkCover SA conference, which I had the pleasure to open officially. The theme for this year's conference was 'Integrate, innovate and inspire'. The conference helps improve the services, skills and engagement of the people who contribute to the delivery of better outcomes for injured workers and employers. The speakers included Michael Henderson, a corporate anthropologist, who shared his innovative ideas on workplace culture and its importance in cultivating positive return-to-work attitudes.

Nando Parrado, one of the world's top inspirational speakers, shared firsthand the remarkable story of the rugby team whose plane crashed in the Andes in 1972. Through the support of WorkCover's conference sponsors we were able to hear their story of courage, resilience, teamwork, determination and leadership in dealing with a life-changing survival experience. There was a range of international and Australian experts contributing to the program. The conference was highly successful, providing inspiration and practical tools for those involved in supporting injured workers to recover at work.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Lucas has a supplementary.