A whole-of-person approach to return to work

Case study 1

A Leading Aircraftman Supplier with six year service in the Supplier mustering has transferrable skills in stores work. The former member's ability to utilise those skills is limited by a chronic knee injury suffered while playing inter-service rugby. The former member then undertook a Certificate IV in Warehousing and Logistics. With some recognition of prior learning this course took six months to complete. At the end of the course the former member obtained employment as the Assistant Manager of a warehouse for a major food retailer.

Please refer to section 2.6 of the Rehabilitation Policy Library for detailed information about eligibility for Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP).

Psychosocial rehabilitation activities need to be flexible, customisable and responsive because recovery is too complex to be predictable from one client to the next.

A focus on return to work activities too soon in the rehabilitation process can be counterproductive, and can often extend the length of a rehabilitation program. Each person’s circumstances must be taken into account, when considering the rehabilitation activities to be undertaken.

Arranging the work trial

The rehabilitation service provider is responsible for arranging and monitoring a work trial for the client.  This includes ensuring that the work trial is appropriate given the client's medical restrictions and the type of work that they will be undertaking, and negotiating the terms of the work trial, including liaison with the relevant union if necessary.