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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-09-15 Daily Xml
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WORKCOVER CORPORATION

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:08): I seek leave to make an explanation prior to directing a question to the Leader of the Government on the subject of WorkCover.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: In August of this year Ms Rosemary McKenzie-Ferguson, on behalf of Work Injured Resource Connection, received a reply to a freedom of information request in relation to the number of suicides among injured workers. In summary, the FOI produced the following information. There have been 14 suicides recorded in the last five years, according to WorkCover, as a result of the case management system, to their knowledge of injured workers who had an active WorkCover claim; that is, they were either receiving WorkCover payments or were in the process of having a WorkCover claim determined. So there were 14 cases of suicide. The response to the FOI also indicated that research conducted in 2001:

...indicated that workers on the WorkCover scheme experienced levels of suicide no greater than that prevalent within society in general.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Is the minister concerned about the level of suicide by injured workers being either applicants to WorkCover for a claim or recipients of a WorkCover payment?

2. Does he agree with the WorkCover view expressed in the FOI that workers on the WorkCover scheme experience levels of suicide no greater than that prevalent within society?

3. What actions has he taken as minister to reduce the level of suicides involving WorkCover recipients?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (15:10): I think all of us would be concerned about suicides wherever they take place, whether they involve people on workers compensation or occur more generally in the community. Of course, we should take them seriously. Indeed, WorkCover, I know, does take very seriously any indication of a worker contemplating or threatening self-harm or suicide.

Regrettably, the evidence shows that there is a higher incidence of depression and suicide among people who have been out of the workforce (for example, that could be unemployment, not necessarily because of injury) for long periods. It is also recognised that a number of people on the WorkCover scheme suffer from psychological illness.

It is timely, I guess, that the honourable member should ask this question, because just today WorkCover is having a seminar on return to work. The first speaker, Sir Mansel Aylward, an eminent physician from Cardiff in the United Kingdom, by video link made the point that returning to work as soon as it is safely possible to do so is absolutely the best thing one can do for a worker's wellbeing, and that includes their psychological wellbeing.

It is quite clear that, in the case of workers who, for whatever reason, are unable to quickly return to work, albeit with the support of their workmates and others, the longer they are out of work the more likely they are to develop a secondary psychological illness. In his last question, the honourable member asked what actions we have taken. The best thing that one can do is to ensure that workers get back to work as quickly as they can safely do so.

At the return to work awards last night, which coincided with today's seminar, I was very fortunate to hear of cases of workers, some of whom had been very seriously injured but who had all gone back to work. All the award winners last night made the point that it was their drive and commitment to get back to work that was really what kept them sane and kept them going.

If there is any message in relation to any link between being on workers compensation and mental illness, it is that getting back to work as quickly as it is possible to do so is the best solution, and there is overwhelming evidence for that. That is why the focus of WorkCover has to be getting workers back to work as quickly as it is possible to do so.

I think the honourable member's second question was whether I agreed with the statement by WorkCover about those statistics and their relevance to people in the workforce. All I can say is that I have no reason to doubt the statistics WorkCover has given.

It is probably also worth pointing out that WorkCover and its claims agents are highly responsive to situations where a workers compensation claimant may be contemplating or threatening suicide. Employers Mutual and WorkCover staff are trained in critical incident management and suicide intervention and, where necessary, external professional assistance may be required to assist vulnerable workers. This could include SA Ambulance, SA Police assessment and crisis intervention service, the treating doctor, psychiatrists, psychologists and Lifeline. I point out that any costs of that are covered by the scheme.

WorkCover also has arrangements in place with medical institutions and private psychiatric hospitals for emergency admission where required. Of course, all suicides are investigated by the Coroner as a matter of course, and where a claimant attempts or commits suicide WorkCover will investigate to identify any trends or issues that need to be addressed in the scheme.

So yes, I am, and I believe WorkCover is, greatly concerned by anybody who is contemplating or attempting suicide. Our whole focus with return to work schemes, as we speak, is to try to minimise the chances of that happening and, as I said, the evidence shows overwhelmingly that the best way of doing that is getting a worker back to work as quickly as it is safe to do so.

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