"…long term worklessness is one of the greatest risks to health in our society. It is more dangerous than the most dangerous jobs in the construction industry, or the North Sea, and too often we not only fail to protect our patients from worklessness, we sometimes actually push them into it, inadvertently…"

Professor Gordon Waddell, commenting on the health effects of being off work, from the report "Is work good for your health and well being?"

Actevate was engaged to provide return to work assistance to Joseph a 35 year old Truck Driver, who had sustained a severe leg and knee injury following a motorbike accident on his way to work in January 2010. Actevate assisted him with the upgrading of his work capacity; he continued to have ongoing difficulties and was not able to return to his usual duties.

Due to his ongoing limitations, Joseph continued to have significant pain and despite a straight forward recovery process the combination of family stressors meant he became highly withdrawn and consequently felt he would never be able to work again. Joseph’s psychological health had deteriorated to the extent that it was necessary for him to commence treatment with a Psychologist to assist him with chronic depression and anxiety. Actevate facilitated this specialised treatment by providing ongoing assistance with job seeking, reinstalling feelings of self confidence, self efficacy and reminding him of the positive role model he once was for his children.

During our involvement with Joseph he purported to have a family member who worked at a service station within his local community. Establishing contact and putting forward the great incentive of JobCover Placement led to the employer being able to access a highly motivated worker who had an extensive support network to assist him with the employment training and up skilling of his new staff member.

Actevate were able to demonstrate access to a wide range of supports including the Job Cover Placement Program, funding for training and implementation of resources to ensure durable employment was available. Joseph is now reporting significant improvements with his health both physically and psychologically along with benefits with the increased responsibilities and monetary support that his new role provides. Actevate recognises that a physical return to work is the most significant contributing factor in influencing a workers health.

Loss of work has devastating effects on the individual, the family, and the community. While the economic consequences are well recognised, the adverse health effects of being out of work for extended periods are less well recognised and addressed. Research shows that being out of work for extended periods of time is bad for a person’s health. The longer someone spends away from work, the less likely they will ever return.

Actevate are excited that the NSW Government has introduced these wonderful incentives and accordingly we invite you to consider these incentives. The JobCover placement program provides incentives of up to $27,400 to employ an injured worker for the worker’s first year of employment.

The wage subsidy increases according to the length of time the injured worker remains employed with the new employer:

• Up to $400 per week for first 12 weeks ($4,800)

• Up to $500 per week for next 14 weeks ($7,000)

• Up to $600 per week for next 26 weeks ($15,600).

In addition:

• The injured worker’s wages are not included in the calculation of the new employer's workers compensation premium for two years, and

• The new employer is protected against further costs associated with the existing injury for up to two years.

Completed by Nastaran Dianati and Jeremy Bastow

Please note that the Injured Workers name was changed for the purpose of this article.