Return to Work Pilot: EML Your Future program
Return to Work: EML Career Transition program
Pilot outcomes
The Return to Work Your Future program pilot’s independent evaluation found strong and statistically significant evidence that the program had a positive effect on Return to Work (RTW) outcomes for participants in the Comcare scheme. The pilot was a collaboration between Comcare and Employers Mutual Limited (EML).
The proportion of employees who participated and returned to some form of work within six months of program commencement was 247% more than that of non-participants.
As a result, Comcare and EML established the RTW Brokerage service from July 2023 – June 2024 with a continued focus on job readiness, career coaching, recovery and return to 'good work' or help with career development for injured employees. An additional eight participants returned to meaningful work as a result.
EML Career Transition program
The EML Career Transition program (formerly EML’s Your Future program) was launched in July 2024 following the success of the Return to Work Your Future program pilot and subsequent brokerage service. It is designed to improve return to work outcomes for injured employees with primary or secondary psychological injury and longer-term injured employees. This program is for Comcare scheme employers to use.
To find out more about this current service offering, the criteria for employees to be referred and contact details to sign up for the service, view the frequently asked questions below.
Fact sheet
Background
EML approached Comcare in 2019 with an evidence-based program titled Your Future. The Your Future program aimed to change the employment outlook for long-term injured workers by providing customised and individualised support for participants.
Employment specialists (business and career coaches) worked with injured employees to provide in-depth job canvassing, matching and support complemented by career coaching, planning and a supporting case management function for those with more complex needs.
Pilot overview
The pilot ran between November 2021 – October 2022, targeting injured employees who had been unsuccessful with returning to work with their pre-injury employer using the traditional rehabilitation framework.
The pilot achieved a number of positive results, including 37 registrations out of 126 invitations, with 34 workers completing a program (program options included a 26-week full, or 6-8 week fast-track program).
In total, 27 employees completed the full program, six employees completed the fast-track program, and one employee who joined in July 2022, undertook a bespoke mid-length program for 18 weeks.
The average age of workers invited to participate was 50 years and about 60% were females. Some 85% of participants had a psychological injury and the average time since injury for all participants was 4.1 years.
In total, 29 participants and 60 non-participants were included in the pilot evaluation process, after excluding employees who were either partially or fully at work on commencement. Due to the success and effectiveness of the pilot, 37.9% of participants achieved a RTW outcome within six months, compared to 11.7% of non-participants.
Project participants
- Comcare
- EML
Other organisations involved
- Taylor Fry – pilot evaluation
- Monash University – pilot evaluation
