SIRA announces partnership to aid psychologically impaired workers

NSW’s State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) will collaborate with the Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association (ARPA) to help people with psychological injuries return to work.

The regulator says it has introduced a service offering returning workers workplace discussion sessions with rehabilitation providers to help make the transition easier.

SIRA CEO Adam Dent says the service aims to help vulnerable workers who are often at increased risk of workplace bullying, harassment or excessive stress due to their psychological conditions.

“While delayed return to work has always been more challenging for people with psychological injuries, the gap between outcomes for people with physical and psychological injuries is now the widest it has ever been,” Mr Dent said.

SIRA data shows workers with primary psychological compensation claims report significantly poorer return to work rates compared to workers with primarily physically related injuries.

The findings show that less than half of all workers with psychological impairment claims reported back to work six months later in the last financial year compared to nearly 90% of workers with physical injuries who returned to work.

Mr Dent says greater attention needs to be placed on addressing the growing divide in conditions for returning workers.

“By introducing workplace facilitated discussions, SIRA aims to increase the support that is available to people with psychological injuries or in psychological distress,” he said.

“The evidence base shows that workplace discussions facilitated by a third party can resolve workplace conflict and aid improved return to work, so I look forward to seeing these results translate into improved outcomes for people in the NSW workers compensation scheme.”

ARPA CEO Nathan Clarke says the services offered by the partnership will ease the process for returning workers.

“Workplace rehabilitation providers have been proven to increase return to work outcomes by up to 20% for people with psychological injury claims,” Mr Clarke said.

“Getting a trained and experienced workplace rehabilitation provider involved in discussions between workers, employers and other parties can help resolve workplace relationship issues and reset expectations.”

To access the service, eligible returning workers can speak to their doctors, employers, insurers, or workplace rehabilitation provider.

SIRA says the initiative is in response to section 10 of its Return to Work Action Plan. It says it will monitor the service’s success and continue to explore other effective initiatives.