- Title
- A perspective on the role and training of the Australian Workplace Return to Work Coordinator
- Creator
- Bohatko-Naismith, Joanna
- Relation
- University of Newcastle Research Higher Degree Thesis
- Resource Type
- thesis
- Date
- 2018
- Description
- Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Description
- The concept of a workplace Return to Work Coordinator (RTWC) stems from significant reforms to the Australian workers’ compensation legislation in the mid-1980s, which highlighted the need for the rehabilitation of injured workers to occur at the workplace. Since its inception, the role of the workplace RTWC has continued to evolve, and contemporarily, the role has been recognised as critical in the facilitation of injured workers returning to pre-injury work duties. The overall aim of the thesis is to identify the attributes and skills required to effectively perform the role of a workplace RTWC, and ascertain if the current training programs adequately prepare RTWCs in assisting an injured worker to return to work. Moreover, the thesis also explores their relationship with the injured worker and the General Practitioner (GP), and whether there are any associated barriers that may negatively impact on the injured worker. Three research studies and one literature review were undertaken to meet this aim. In the first study, focus groups were conducted with contemporary workplace RTWCs to ascertain their views of the traits and characteristics required to perform the role successfully, and in addition highlight any deficiencies that may exist within current training practices from their perspective. In the second study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with injured workers, and in the third study a cross-sectional survey was undertaken of GPs, with both studies designed to gain insights into the relationships between these key stakeholders and the workplace RTWC. In particular, insights were sought from these stakeholders regarding the necessary traits and adequacy of training of RTWCs. This thesis and its constituent studies revealed contemporary workplace RTWCs need to possess specific traits and characteristics such as compassion, empathy and patience to successfully perform the role, with an emphasis on identifying these traits during the selection process of workplace RTWCs. The findings also revealed that a review of current training practices is required if workplace RTWCs are to be supported appropriately to facilitate a successful return to work for an injured worker. In turn, this will likely assist with the reduction of workplace disability and workers’ compensation costs. The findings of this thesis should be of significant interest to regulators and policy makers, and have important implications for future research in the specific area of workplace rehabilitation.
- Subject
- Return to Work Coordinator; disability manager; qualitative research
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1390603
- Identifier
- uon:33095
- Rights
- Copyright 2018 Joanna Bohatko-Naismith
- Language
- eng
- Full Text
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT01 | Thesis | 12 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download | ||
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT02 | Abstract | 218 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |