Returning to independence

For those workers who have been significantly injured, improving their level of independence is Comcare’s primary aim. These workers may have been unable to work for significant periods, and may have been retired from their employment on invalidity grounds.

The support these employees need to maintain or improve their independence may be quite different from that needed by an employee undertaking a return to work program.

Comcare is committed to providing support and assistance to injured workers who are unable or unlikely to return to sustainable employment, or who need significant rehabilitation support to allow them to recover from their injury before returning back to work can be considered.

Comcare’s goal for these injured workers is to minimise the impact long-term work absence can have on them and their families by providing benefits and services such as:

• aids, appliances and modifications
• care and support services
• incapacity payments.

This involves Comcare working with injured workers, their families and providers to offer necessary rehabilitation services to improve the workers’ quality of life, independence and, where possible and appropriate, improve employment prospects in the longer term.

Key activities

Some of the types of activities Comcare can offer to injured workers include:

• assess the level and type of treatment the injured worker is receiving to help in their daily activities and achieve maximum independence
• liaise with medical providers to make sure any appropriate and reasonable treatment is approved and paid for in a timely manner
• assess the need for aids and appliances, household help and attendant care support
• make sure all appropriate incapacity benefits are approved and paid for in a timely manner
• engage with other stakeholders, such as the injured worker, treating medical providers, the employing agency and rehabilitation providers, where appropriate.