SIRA is partnering with the Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association (ARPA) to help improve the return to work outcomes of people with psychological injuries.
Returning to work after an injury can be particularly complex for people who have suffered workplace bullying, harassment or work-related stress.
To make the transition back to work easier, SIRA has introduced a new evidence-based service offering workplace discussions facilitated by rehabilitation providers.
SIRA Chief Executive Adam Dent said that the service is aimed at helping people with psychological injuries or physical injuries in psychological distress resolve interpersonal conflict when they return to work.
"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.
"There is no doubt that achieving good outcomes for people that have suffered an injury due to workplace bullying, harassment or work-related stress, is harder than supporting someone with a physical injury.
"However, the growing divide in outcomes between people with psychological and physical injuries must be addressed.
"By introducing workplace facilitated discussions, SIRA aims to increase the support that is available to people with psychological injuries or in psychological distress.
"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 Chief Executive Officer Nathan Clarke said that his association is helping to implement SIRA's new service offering workplace facilitated discussions to improve return to work outcomes.
"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.
"We can help parties reach a workable agreement and implement a plan for person's recovery at work."
People in the NSW workers compensation scheme can speak to their doctor, workplace rehabilitation provider, employer or insurer about accessing workplace facilitated discussions.
This initiative responds to action 10 of SIRA's Return to Work Action Plan where SIRA committed to a range of initiatives to address poor return to work performance in the NSW workers compensation scheme.
SIRA will continue to evaluate the uptake and outcomes of the new workplace facilitated discussions.
Return to work data for primary psychological and non-psychological workers compensations claims (excluding COVID-19 claims) is published on the SIRA website.
