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How the Allianz Recovery Support teams are supporting the mental health of injured workers through personalised support and programs

Last updated on January 13, 2022 
Our new Allianz Personal Injury Recovery Support teams are providing personalised mental health support to our workers' compensation customers with complex health conditions. Our aim is to help workers return to health and normal life and, hopefully, eventually to work.

Two Recovery Support teams within Personal Injury have been caring for the mental health of injured workers in Victoria who have been unable to return to work for at least six months. Some of these cases are early on in the claim, while others are people who have been off work for many years, with their recovery severely compromised through a mental health injury sustained in the workplace.

By taking a personalised approach with each injured worker and listening to their needs, our Recovery Support teams effectively build rapport with injured workers and their treatment providers. Our teams ensure injured workers receive the most appropriate treatment and offer advice, expertise, education, awareness and information about the recovery support tools available. Some of these tools include alternative health therapies and wellness courses, exercise physiology and the services of mental health social workers.

Read on to see how some of our Recovery Support team members are working to improve the quality of life for workers unable to return to work. Their work plays an important role in supporting the Allianz Return to Work teams, who focus on helping able workers get back to work.


Capability Support Specialist, Rebecca Spiteri

Rebecca advocates the personal, regular contact and help she and her Recovery Support team offers.

“I help support injured workers, building a relationship and trust with regular contact. I've found it’s the best way to discover what each person needs to assist with their recovery. I want to help people get their lives back on track, it’s a nice feeling when I'm able to assist," Rebecca said.

Rebecca has supported many injured workers. Through our Alternative Therapy Program, she supported one person to take up yoga and improve their condition, which led to them taking part in Transferable Skills Analysis and identifying new job opportunities. Rebecca helped another injured worker build confidence and improve motivation and mental health, to the point where they independently found suitable employment and have since achieved a full return to work.


Senior Case Manager, Brady Yates

Brady agrees that being able to personalise support and really listen helps workers with primary mental health injuries.

“When I speak with injured workers, I always tell them to give me a call if they need someone to talk to; particularly if they cannot get hold of their treating health practitioners or if they do not want to talk to their friends or families. I advise that if they are feeling down we can talk about anything, like their pets or hobbies. I try to pick up on these details when they call so I know what interests they have, and how to make that connection. I find once I start to talk about their hobbies or pets, I can hear in their voices how much this means to them."

 

Our Allianz Recovery Support teams are supported by formal training programs, as well as additional help to enhance their ability to manage customers with primary mental health injuries. These include access to leader and peer support programs, mindfulness, call coaching to build rapport and Suicide ASSIST training.

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Disclaimer

This article has been prepared by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFSL234708 (“Allianz”). In some cases, information has been provided to us by third parties and while that information is believed to be accurate and reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed in any way.

Any opinions expressed constitute our views at the time of issue and are subject to change. Neither Allianz, nor its employees or directors give any warranty of accuracy or accept responsibility for any loss or liability incurred by you in respect of any error, omission or misrepresentation in this article.

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