Work-connected interventions for people with psychological injuries
SIRA commissioned Monash University to conduct a multi-stage intervention mapping project into prevention and management of psychological injury claims. The intent of the project was to strengthen SIRA’s understanding of current psychological injury practices, along with the evidence base for best practice intervention. The project was conducted in three stages:
- A review of existing evidence combined with interviews with key stakeholders
- A survey of professionals involved in the management of psychological claims
- A workshop with experts in the management of psychological injuries
Key findings of the project
The final report presents a high-level synthesis of key themes in which there are opportunities for SIRA to act on:
1. Addressing barriers and facilitators to effective care – the employer and the workplace, healthcare providers and insurance case managers.
2. Developing a model of care – a well-defined model of care for people with psychological injury within Australian injury compensation schemes would fill a gap in implementation science. Return to work professionals identified three key principles for an effective approach to care for people with psychological injury:
- Tailored, person-specific treatment and management
- A multi-stakeholder approaches
- The importance of early action
3. Addressing the evidence gap – evidence required to bridge the gap between high level strategy documents or position statements and on-the-ground practices.
4. Transformation infrastructure – infrastructure will need to be established to help realise these opportunities. This could include establishing an advisory group of people with lived experience of psychological injury, employers with demonstrated expertise in stay at work and return to work strategies for employees with psychological injuries, suitably experienced healthcare providers and insurers and self-insurers.
SIRA has now published the Mental health recovery and support action plan in response to the recommendations.
Resources
All project reports from Monash University are now available.
- Existing evidence report Work-connected interventions for people with psychological injuries - PDF - (758.8 KB)
- Literature review Existing evidence on work-connected interventions for people with psychological injuries (one page summary) - PDF (93.0 KB)
- Survey report Psychological injury claims program - survey report - report 2 - PDF (643.2 KB)
- Workshop summary report Psychological injury claims project - workshop summary - report 3 - PDF (673.3 KB)
- Final report Psychological injury claims project synthesis report project - report 4 - PDF (358.8 KB)