RELEASE DATE Friday, 2 May 2008
Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon. Michael Wright today launched WorkCover’s second annual Recovery and Return to Work Awards which will recognise the outstanding efforts of South Australians injured at work, and those helping injured workers, to recover and get back to work.
Nominations for the awards open today and close on 18 July 2008. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in September 2008, which will be held as a precursor to WorkCover’s annual conference, on 1 October 2008.
"The Recovery and Return to Work Awards are a superb way to acknowledge those people who went the extra mile as either injured workers themselves, or supporting injured workers to recover and return to work,” said Minister Wright.
"One of our greatest challenges is to ensure we can get injured workers well and safely back to work as soon as possible. The Awards present an opportunity for those involved in the Scheme to showcase innovative solutions, best practice injury management and better ways of working together,” he said.
WorkCover claim statistics indicate the longer a worker is away from work, the probability of returning to work decreases – until after three years there is only a six per cent probability of returning to work in the following three months.
"Last year’s winners and finalists were an inspiration to us all. Their stories all shared a common thread about the importance of returning injured workers to safe employment, and the community, as promptly as possible,” said Minister Wright.
Workers, employers, case managers and health and rehabilitation service providers are eligible to apply for an award.
"I encourage individuals and organisations involved in the WorkCover Scheme to nominate themselves or someone else who has demonstrated excellence and innovation in recovery and return to work,” said Julia Davison, WorkCoverSA CEO.
"The Recovery and Return to Work Awards are an excellent way to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of South Australian scheme participants, and are part of a concerted effort to raise awareness about the importance of return to work in South Australia,” she said.
The 2008 Recovery and Return to Work Awards are sponsored by Employers Mutual, Minter Ellison, Business SA and Self-Insurers South Australia. Nomination forms are available on the WorkCover website: www.workcover.com.