What is Workcover and workers compensation?
Workcover in NSW
Workcover is the term given to the protection and compensation authorities in NSW. It is made up of three independent bodies:
- SafeWork NSW – The work health and safety regulation authority
- SIRA – The State Insurance Regulation Authority
- icare – Insurance and Care NSW
The regulation authorities help create imrpovements in workplace standards. icare facilitates the provision of care for you, they work directly with rehab companies and counselling services to ensure your needs can be met. This includes approving you for counselling when this is needed.
Workplace accidents and trauma
Workplace accidents and trauma can come in many different forms:
- accidents and traumatic injuries
- reduced physical function or capacity
- emotional trauma
- near misses
- witnessing a workplace accident
- interpersonal trauma and conflict
- emotional abuse, harassment or threats
- workplace bullying
Check out our Workcover services
Ring us for a free 15 minute phone consultation with our Intake Counsellor – 9-5pm
Choose a Workcover approved clinician
Click a calendar to book.
Counselling and rehabilitation
What is the aim of counselling?
In a workcover case, the aim is for recovery. This may be physical recovery. But also, it could be emotional recovery. You may need trauma focused therapy to help with overcoming your experiences. You may need grief therapy to work through the grief you feel after your accident.
Grief is a real part of the recovery process. You may have experienced physical loss of function. You might not be able to return to the same role you had before the incident. The aim is also to support your back to work plan. Working is great contributor to quality of life indicators such as:
- vocational enjoyment
- financial flexibility
- self-esteem
- physical and mental health
- social connections
- contribution to society
What can I expect to happen when I see a psychologist?
Psychologists on our team have training to work with workers’ compensation cases. You are in good hands. Your psychologist, or social worker will take a comprehensive review of your case. They will do this by talking with you. They will also communicate with other people involved in your case. Other people who may work collaboratively in your case include:
- rehab providers
- GP’s
- Physio’s
- OT’s
- compensation lawyers
- work cover representatives
- your employer, HR or manager
- case managers
- your insurance company
Why is counselling important?
You may be referred to Bridges Counselling for assessment, or for therapy. This will depend on how far along you are in your journey with Workcover. Whether the incident occurred to you, or whether you were a witness to the event, the symptoms can be equally impacting. It’s important to acknowledge the symptoms you are experiencing so that you can get the help you need.
Counselling helps to:
- come to terms with your experiences
- set goals around recovery
- cope with ongoing physical and psychological symptoms
- overcome negative thoughts and memories
- plan future workplace and vocational goals
Where to next?
People start counselling at varying stages of their healing journey. You may:
- have not informed your workplace yet
- be currently off work
- not be sure what your next move is
- have been given information about how to claim for compensation
- be requiring assessment to formalise your claim
- have been advised to access counselling to help with your back to work goals
- have an approved “Back to Work” claim in place
Most of the time, your insurer or case worker will arrange your first counselling session for you. At other times they may advise you to call and book yourself. An approved claim with a claim number must be in place before Workcover will be able to cover your counselling fees.
Psychological symptoms of workplace trauma
- depression
- anxiety
- grief at the loss of function
- uneasiness
- overwhelm
- work avoidance
- hopelessness
- fear about what the future holds
Physical symptoms of workplace trauma
- accidents
- difficulty concentrating
- reduced productivity
- injuries
- sickness
- physical burnout
- shakiness
- muscle pain
- fatigue
- sleeplessness or oversleeping
Recovery is possible
It takes time, but recovery is possible. Workcover goals include a concept called “Recovery at Work”, which acknowldges that recovery takes time and you’re not going to automatically regain your ability to jump straight back into your role.
Slow return to work goals are made when you’re ready. And your workplace will be coached and guided to the needs you have to be effectively supported back to work.
Turning feelings into words can help us process and overcome adversity.
– Sheryl Sandberg
People who can get back into work have better outcomes
There may be some changes to navigate in this time. We can help work with your workplace to ensure that they can accommodate to your needs. You may need to have altered hours or altered job functions. You may need to change roles altogether, or even change jobs altogether.
This can be a stressful time, and you may even experience anxiety around not feeling ready to go back to work. This is a normal part of the healing process, and it is important for you to feel supported enough to say what’s going on. This ensures your back to work plan is tailored to your unique and individual needs. Your counsellor will be an advocate in explaining your needs.