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A forum for interaction about Workcover South Australia and the experiences of Injured Workers.
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New Changes to Workcover Legislation and what it means.
Changes have already taken place in respect of the changes to the Workcover legislation.
Please let us know how these changes have impacted upon your life.
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Posted: 4:35 PM, 7/8/2008 |
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Former WorkCover boss to stand trial for alleged corruption
The former director of WorkCover Qld, Harold Shand, leaves Brisbane's Magistrates Court after being committed to stand trial for alleged official corruption.
The former director of WorkCover Qld, Harold Shand, leaves Brisbane's Magistrates Court after being committed to stand trial for alleged official corruption. (ABC News: Jason Rawlins)
The former director of WorkCover Queensland, Harold Shand, has conceded there is a prima facie case against him on a charge of official corruption.
Shand, who was suspended from his job last year, is accused of paying a secret $60,000 commission to former Queensland Government minister Gordon Nuttall in 2002.
Both men appeared before Magistrate Linda Bradford-Morgan in a Brisbane court this morning for the start of a committal hearing.
But before prosecutor Tony Martin could deliver his opening, Shand's lawyer Tony Glynn conceded there was a prima facie case against his client.
Shand entered no plea after he was formally charged and was committed to trial in the District Court on a date to be fixed. |
Posted by David Simons at 4:40 PM, 7/8/2008 |
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Workcover Ombudsman for SA now in operation.
http://www.premcab.sa.gov.au/dpc/department_owo.html
Handling complaints in relation to Workcover in respect of injured workers.
Contact Details
Level 6 Chesser House
91-97 Grenfell Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8463 6593
Facsimile: (08) 8204 2169
Email: owo@saugov.sa.gov.au
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Posted by Anonymous at 4:43 PM, 7/8/2008 |
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McGREGOR MARKETING PTY. LTD.
Aspects of Claims Agent’s Performance
Those surveyed were asked to rate, on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is
excellent and 1 is very poor, a number of measures relating to the
performance of Employers Mutual.
In general, these ratings were in the range from 6.10 to 6.80, with only four
of the attributes tested being below this range, as outlined below.
�� Being able to contact your claims manager when you need to (6.80,
down from 6.99 in May 2007)
�� Having a claims manager with good people skills (6.60, down from
6.84 in May 2007)
�� Prompt processing of my expense claims and entitlements (6.60,
down from 6.70 in May 2007)
�� Having a claims manager who has good knowledge of the system
(6.60, down from 6.83 in May 2007)
�� The efficient handling of the paperwork relating to my case (6.50,
down from 6.74 in May 2007)
�� Having a claims manager who is understanding, and responsive to
my needs (6.30, down from 6.58 in May 2007)
�� Having a claims manager who is focused on getting me back to work
(6.30, down from 6.65 in May 2007)
�� Having a claims manager who is quick and responsive to managing
my claim (6.30, down from 6.61 in May 2007)
�� Being fair to the interests of all parties (6.20, down from 6.56 in May
2007)
�� Informing me of my rights, entitlements and obligations (6.10, down
from 6.47 in May 2007)
�� Being up front and open in telling me everything I need to know (6.10,
down from 6.45 in May 2007)
�� Having a realistic ‘Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work’ plan (5.90,
down from 6.20 in May 2007)
�� Having a claims manager who works closely with my Doctor,
employer and my rehabilitation provider on a ‘Rehabilitation and
Return-to-Work’ plan (5.80, down from 6.14 in May 2007)
�� Working with my employer in relation to a ‘Rehabilitation and ‘Returnto-
Work’ plan (5.60, down from 6.09 in May 2007)
�� Helping me find work that suits my skills and needs (5.30, down from
5.62 in May 2007) |
Posted by Anonymous at 6:26 PM, 7/8/2008 |
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Rehab
| Im not happy with my current rehab and have told eml i want to change rehab providers. I have sought rehab from elswhere but have been told by my case manager i have to stay with my current one because they are an eml rehab provider even tho the one i want to go to is workcover approved. My case manager told me i dont have the rite to choose and its upto eml who i go to. Can someone clarify this for me pleas? Can eml do this? My rehab provider is useless and wont let me go back to work even tho i have been cleared my employer keeps telling me they have no work for me. Its obvious the rehab provider is siding with my case manager who is not doing anything about my employer providing work for me. I just want proper rehab and to get back to work. Dont i have the rite?? |
Posted by Want to work at 9:01 PM, 7/8/2008 |
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Want to work.
| I would suggest you write an email to your case manager and send a copy to the WorkCover Ombudsman with your issues. (send a copy bcc to Parnell or Brokenshire as well) |
Posted by Make them accountable at 7:24 AM, 8/8/2008 |
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Major Problem with the system.
Workers should have the right to choose their rehab consultants.
Perhaps throw in a dispute and see what happens.
The omnbudsman deals with non reveiwable decisions. So throw a complaint their way also..
Test the waters.. |
Posted by Anonymous at 10:39 AM, 8/8/2008 |
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Rehab
| Do not trust anyone from EML. They are liars. You can go to ANY WorkCover approved rehab provider. |
Posted by Anonymous at 12:39 PM, 8/8/2008 |
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Rudd to make you save more super
August 08, 2008 09:05am
SUPERANNUATION Minister Nick Sherry says the 9 per cent super guarantee is "not adequate" and the Federal Government will consider a mandated rise in super contributions.
Comments
Kevin Rudd has convenienly overlooked another option. Drop the Keating initiated tax on Super and boost our balances that way. Good of Mr Keating to share his thoughts on this too!
Posted by: Jim of Strathalbyn 12:27pm today
Comment 8 of 8
Some of us do save for our futures in addition to super and do so in other ways and would prefer to not put more money into super than the current arrangement as the super rules keep changing. I'd rather spread my investments and provide myself with greater flexibility. Also I'm in a government super scheme where if I make a 1percent contribution that 1percent pays for limited income protection insurance. It does not bolster my super. I already have and pay for a much better income protection insurance scheme and do not want to pay for two as I will not benefit from the government one. Why not make each pay rise be part cash in hand and part super until over time the desired percentage is reached?
Posted by: Susan of Aberfoyle Park 12:01pm today
Comment 7 of 8
Yeah just good money after bad. thank god i never put my life savings in super
Posted by: Mabel Smith of Unley 10:39am today
Comment 6 of 8
How about the government make employee contributions tax free, and make all super payouts tax free, then maybe people will save more. In addition, the super contributions made by employers should be raised to 15% in lieu of pay increases and employees should be forced to contribute at least 5%, and higher rates for higher income earners. It works in Singapore, why not here.
Posted by: Citizen of Adelaide 10:30am today
Comment 5 of 8
Whilst I support the increase in superannuation from the exisiting 9%, I cannot help but see this as another aspect of our lives that will find itself means tested. Will this be applied across the board or will those earning above a certain amount not be able to have access to this scheme? Given his wording in this article, I cannot help but think this will be the case.
Posted by: CG of Adelaide 9:55am today
Comment 4 of 8
I am not surprised that increasing the level of employer contribution is not on the agenda - that would see the final death blw to small business and big business woukd be looking to other countries. How about the government reducing the taxation on super - that would be a nice start. I think it was the Hawke/Keating one that raised the tax way back when.
Posted by: Pam Howard of Seaford 9:38am today
Comment 3 of 8
What is the government going to do about the injured workers on Workcover that were sacked by their employers and denied their super entitltments for years? Seems a 20% drop in their wages is one thing, another 10% is another and then to have to spend thousands on lawyers to handle all the litigation loaded upon them by the bureaucratic bungling of the claims agents- it seems that in the end injured workers are better off just walking away and not bothering with Workcover- at least not being on Workcover they would not be supporting the system that is in itself bleeding profusely from its unfunded liabiliities.
Posted by: Steve Christos of Adelaide 9:37am today
Comment 2 of 8
Why doesn't the Government just drop the 15% contributions tax, the amount of money going into everybody's super account will go up without any cost to employer or employee. It will only reduce the Government's unfair tax grab.
Posted by: tony of dry creek 9:26am today
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Posted by Daniel Peters at 1:00 PM, 8/8/2008 |
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Rehab
| If choosing your own rehab is the case, then every worker should choose not to use De Poi. Put her out of business,....... |
Posted by Raponi at 2:41 PM, 8/8/2008 |
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Rehabilitation
| I agree with the above comment. We should all boycott De Poi..... |
Posted by Verran at 3:51 PM, 8/8/2008 |
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rehab
| You are allowed to pick your own rehab, the smaller campanies tend to be more accepted. |
Posted by Alison Howard at 6:39 PM, 8/8/2008 |
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Section 42 Redemption Settlement
I am looking at doing a redemption but am so confused at what i may be entitled to. I have been told so many different stories and dont know which one is the right one. I have a major shoulder injury which is only getting worse but after being told by eml that i wont get a huge payout ss i undertook studies last year for youth work they are now only going to pay me on what the award rate for a youth worker is, not what will happen in the future. why did my case manager then ask me what amount i though was fair if that isnt what they will pay me anyway, i got told i may be lucky to get 30000 for my injury and as i have refused surgery that may lowerf the payment, i need help
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Posted by Wendy F at 6:43 PM, 8/8/2008 |
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Right to choose Rehabilitation
Shipley v The State of South Australia (Dept for Correctional Services) [2001] SAWCT 141 (29 November 2001)
Judicial Determination - Worker sustains compensable disability and is incapacitated for work - Worker unhappy with respondent's chosen rehabilitation provider - Nominates own provider not being a provider with whom respondent has agreement for provision of rehabilitation "programmes or services", but having agreement with WorkCover - Respondent refuses to approve "Rehabilitation and Return to Work Plan" prepared by such external provider - Respondent then rejects worker's claim for rehabilitation expenses - Whether such refusal and rejection is unreasonable - Definitional provision in the Act - Held: Failure of respondent to establish a rehabilitation and return to work plan in terms requested by external rehabilitation provider is reviewable - Respondent's refusal to approve plan prepared by worker was unreasonable - Worker is entitled to claim for rehabilitation expenses - S 28A |
Posted by Anonymous at 6:55 PM, 8/8/2008 |
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Above comment
You will find the REPRESENTATION Counsel for the Shipley case for the Respondent (WorkCover) was Mr W Lines. The now new WorkCover Ombudsman. If he didnt know the law then, I am sure he does now!
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Posted by Anonymous at 6:58 PM, 8/8/2008 |
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Rehab
| One of the better smaller rehab companies is Costa Pericles Consultancy. They arent in it for the money and genuinely try their best to get a good outcomes for all parties. They got me into a course i liked and a few months ago i got a full time job. Unfortunatly there have been problems with EML honoring the promises with Rise though. Anyway I my rehab consultant was great she was very upfront and honest and definatly knows what rehab is unlike my previous provider. |
Posted by Pete at 8:19 PM, 8/8/2008 |
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Above comment
| I was with costa pericles about a year ago but my case manager transferred me to another provider because she said she wasnt happy with my rehab, i was only at costa for about a month so not much could happen? The company im getting rehab from now is much worse and my rehab consultant is a total idiot and ive been through at least 6 or 7 eml case managers all have told me i cant choose my rehabilitation provider as eml knows whats best for me. |
Posted by Anonymous at 4:19 PM, 10/8/2008 |
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Rehabilitation
| I had the worst experience with rehabilition at Personel Placement Consultancies. They are just job seekers after all. Maybe it was just me but I thought they had a different agenda than what the WorkCover act was supposed to do and I expected too much. The thing is my Doctors were not too impressed with their tecniques. Maybe they were more interested in influencing the medical specialist instead of working with them. |
Posted by How to influence Doctors at 5:45 PM, 10/8/2008 |
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Influencing treating doctors. Practical Techniques for Case managers
| https://www.sicorp.nsw.gov.au/sicorp_web/TMFCom/psrcm/Influencing%20Doctors%20for%20EML%20Copyright%202008.pdf |
Posted by Anonymous at 7:53 PM, 10/8/2008 |
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All spin and no reality
Hmm- This is the way I understand the case managers should interpret the Occ health handout of EML.
1)Strive for a caring attitude regardless of what you think. ie Bullshit yoru way through.
2) Could we arrange an assessment to arrange some pain counselling/activity/program that would help them?
"Then after their response could I call you after the assessment to talk about it"?
So you want my doctor to do some behind the doors deal with my case manager?
How low do they go?
Clearly this is raising issues of accountability and why not say it while the worker is present? (ensure your release forms cover this scenario- because case managers got no right to hold case conferences without you present if you do not consent)
3) He is reluctant to upgrade and school holidays is on the way?
What the heck does school holidays have to do with it?
Is this a typical suggestion that every injured worker on workcover takes time off because School holidays are approaching?
What a joke..most injured workers would prefer to be at work than look after their bloody kids 24/7.
This Occ Health handout simply shows how out of touch the agents really are and what poor negotiating skills they have.
If a worker has an injury simply sort the mess out- either he can work or not. If he can not work is he recovering, how can that recovery be sped up?
If not pay him out and let him get on with his life instead of engaging in all the crap and wasting millions of dollars sustaining EML and all of these WorkCover employees and Gurus who do nothing all day but meddle with peoples lives and waste employers hard earned profit.
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Posted by Deb Palmer at 10:29 PM, 10/8/2008 |
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On Work cover?
Has anyone on work-cover ever sat back and thought about what has happened in their lives?
I have.
Being on Work cover is like havng a bunch of monkeys on your back.
Who are the Monkeys?
My Case Manager, My doctor, My rehab provider, My employer etc etc.
And all of them have really got no idea of how to rehabilitate me, heal me, manage my claim or get me back to work.
Seems like all they do is hang on for a free ride..
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Posted by Peter at 10:39 PM, 10/8/2008 |
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Not a pension
| Peter, they have a job to do. Unfortunately WorkCover itself has corrupted the system so much - especial rehab providers, that half the time they arent doing their job correctly. The thing I hear alot from injured workers is that they are annoyed with being pestered, but I ask you this, wouldnt you be complaining if they werent always contacting you? Wouldnt you be saying they arent doing their jobs correctly? Would you rather just be allowed to sick back and be treated like your on the pension? You are an injured worker and the job for all parties including yourself is to get you back into the workforce and back to living a normal productive life, which certainly cant be done with you sitting back doing nothing. |
Posted by Anonymous at 5:26 AM, 11/8/2008 |
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the true agenda
I agree with the above comment as I have now been sick of work for 3 years, yes "3" years. I hate it and feel trapped because I know my injury is an obsticle when I am cleared to go back to work. I reckon they should be able to remove any disclosure on employment forms about having a workplace injury. It would give a lot of injured workers a lot more confidance without feeling discriminated against.
I also read the link about case managers "influencing" treating doctors and my Doctor made it that I had to be present for all discussions. Everything had to be in writing and wouldnt take phone calls from "insurance clerks". I can only guess my doctor had previous experience with such practises. |
Posted by Anonymous at 8:27 AM, 11/8/2008 |
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WorkCover, EML & Rehabilitation Corruption
| I think the one major problem is claims agents such as EML DIRECTING rehabilitation consultants what to do. It goes against everything and causes far more problems. Peter mentioned pestering above.. Peter these rehab consultants and doctors are pestered BY case managers to pester you, hence they really have no choice. EML have made it that if rehab consultants dont do EXACTLY what they want, then they simply don't get any business.. they are punished for being independant - while if you do whatever EML or happen to have a director on the WorkCover Board (ie. De Poi) then you get all the business and make a shitload of money. EML don't reward outcomes.. they reward whatever companies lick their arse and jump when they say! |
Posted by Anonymous at 8:46 AM, 11/8/2008 |
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Work/Life responsibilities
How ironic that the South Australian government are about to bring in a new law in relation to WORKERS will have the right to ask for more flexible working arrangements and be protected from discrimination over family responsibilities when case managers are made to believe to doubt injured workers injuries because "school holidays are coming up soon".
I wonder if injured workers are proteceted from such discimination or will they be seen as hindering their rehabilitation by spending time with their kids???
"The changes to the Equal Opportunity Act will protect both female and male employees from discrimination on the grounds of "life responsibilities" associated with family and caring. The Government moves are outlined in a paper produced to respond to a parliamentary committee investigation into work-life balance which reported earlier this year".
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Posted by Anonymous at 9:04 AM, 11/8/2008 |
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SA Labor Considers Injured Workers To be Criminals
| Rann couldn't give a stuff about the homelives of injured workers. It's evident through the actions of eml and workcover that he belives injured workers are criminals and bludgers. he doesn't care about work injuries one little bit. Just about him and his pals on the workcover board making $$$ while the state compensation unfunded liability increases more and more |
Posted by Lucius at 10:18 AM, 11/8/2008 |
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Employers Liars Mutual
| I've learnt not to believe a word my case manager at employers mutual says. They are total liars. And my rehab consultant has been trying to sec 38 me. Thank god I have an advocate. |
Posted by babs at 3:15 PM, 11/8/2008 |
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Redemptions & Medical Panel - Rann's Solutions
| WorkCover has instructed Employers Mutual Limited to put through as many redemptions as they can to make their statistics look good before the end of the year so the Rann Government can reveal he is taking care of the WorkCover problem. Also you watch after January 2009 the amount of people thrown off WorkCover when the Medical Panel is established - it will be swift and ruthless and very pro-making WorkCover look good. That's why you will find it will have only doctors that are "WorkCover Approved". Prepare to fight injured workers because WorkCover is counting on you being "victims". I can tell you right now WorkCover is already patting themselves on the back. |
Posted by Insider at 4:32 PM, 11/8/2008 |
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Liars anonymous
If Case Managers have made false or misleading statements about your claim then its time should really be brought to the new WorkCover Ombudsmans attention.
Perhaps they could go be made to go to rehabilitation like the injured workers.
Perhaps injured workers could organise meetings for them and call it "Liars Anonymous".
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Posted by Anonymous at 6:07 PM, 11/8/2008 |
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Ranns Right vs The Left
| You may be correct in Rann patting himself on the back but the left faction of the Labor Party still have not forgiven Rann for reducing workers rights. This isnt about the current 3000 workers on the system but the future tens of thousands injured workers (voters) who will be experiencing how tough life will be. |
Posted by Anonymous at 6:25 PM, 11/8/2008 |
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Labor Traitors
| Where was that left faction when these changes were put through??? I didnt see any of them being publicly vocal especially in the media when labor chose to put these changes through, nor did I see any resignations in protest. The entire labor party are traitors. |
Posted by Anonymous at 7:17 PM, 11/8/2008 |
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WorkCover Corruption
Both state Labor and Liberal are sell-outs and both receive large donations from Ms. Sandra De Poi - self-proclaimed "queen bee" of the WorkCover Board. Hence why the legislation was passed through swiftly with little debate or argument.
I'm actually quite surprised though that Liberal Rob Lucas has recently began to investigate corruption within the WorkCover System and Rehabilitation providers. I can say from personal experience that the WorkCover complaints unit is entirely useless. They claim to "investigate" but all they really do is work in league with those being complained about (generally Case Managers and the way their claim is handled) to come up with an illogical explanation for negligent actions.
If you have any personal complaints or have any concerns with the WorkCover system or treatment by your Rehabilitation Provider or Case Manager, then I would suggest writing your concerns to Rob Lucas. He seems to be only politician at the moment actually ACTING on anything and has publicly queried concerns of conflicts of interest and corruption within WorkCover.
His details are:
Write: North Terrace
Parliament House
ADELAIDE SA 5000
Phone: 8237 9313
Fax: 8237 9562
You can also fill out a contact form with details here: http://www.roblucas.com.au/Contact.asp
As stated, he seems to be the only politician actively doing anything about this. Even Kris Hanna doesn't seem to be doing much at all.
Also, just a point raised several times on here. if you are an injured worker and on WorkCover, YOU HAVE RIGHTS. Don't let WorkCover or Employers Mutual bully you to do anything you don't want to do. You have the right to legal advice, advocate representation and you have the right to choose who rehabilitates you. WorkCover and Employers Mutual have already proven on countless occassions they cannot be trusted when it comes to injured worker's rights, and given the already proven conflicts of interest on the WorkCover Board it's fair to say that WorkCover is corrupted to the core and no longer works in the interest of the injured worker and getting them back to work. It works more for the pockets of WorkCover board members who are financially profitting from the rehabilitation (or lack there of) of injured workers and of the Labor Party who are putting MATES on the WorkCover Board and have been for several years now leading to the increased unfunded liability blowout. |
Posted by Anonymous at 7:07 AM, 12/8/2008 |
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Good Experiences
| Has anyone a good experince with De Poi? Anyone? Anyone? *listens to the deafening silence* |
Posted by Yapping Chihauhau at 10:15 AM, 12/8/2008 |
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Good experience with De Poi
I can only think of one person who has had a good experience with De Poi.
Leon "Mr Big" Bignell......hahahahaha |
Posted by Anonymous at 10:22 AM, 12/8/2008 |
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Brokenshire begins by addressing Workcover
Newly sworn-in Member of the Legislative Council, the Hon Robert Brokenshire MLC has asked me to forward to you, and your members and supporters, the below extract from the Maiden Speech that he made on Tuesday 29 July 2008.
Robert was sworn in on Thursday 24 July 2008. If you wish to make an appointment with him, please contact his Personal Assistant, Cherise Burton at his office on 8237 9458.
Workcover
I want to talk about WorkCover, and this might come as a bit of a surprise, particularly to the Liberal Party. I shook my head when I heard what was happening with WorkCover. I was well aware of what was going on with WorkCover in the early 1990s and the unfunded liability was blowing out. By 2002 the unfunded liability had come back to between, from memory, $35 million or $40 million up to $70 million-in other words, it was manageable.
The last couple of years that I was in the House of Assembly, I heard questions to the then minister asking what he was going to do about the unfunded WorkCover liability that was blowing out. At that stage it went to $200 million. A few months later, in answer to another question, it was suggested that it was $300 million and then $400 million. A few years later, the Premier said publicly that it was $1 billion-a third of the State Bank debt in unfunded public sector liability.
I found it interesting that the minister was left on watch all the time that this was happening. I understand reports were not presented to parliament on time, if at all, during that period, yet the government left that minister on the watch. I suggest that, at best, the minister was asleep on the job. That minister then brought in legislation that will kick workers right where it hurts-not just workers, but also their families. That happened in the mid-1990s and workers lost out then, and we were in a bad state of affairs at the time. The economy was not booming, the tax revenue was not there and there was massive unfunded debt. So why, I ask this council, do workers have to suffer again?
I have been out with police on patrol. I attended a situation of domestic violence with them, and I will give an example, as it illustrates what can happen. A police officer goes to the back door, another goes to the front door; they have already seen the lady badly bashed; the guy, who is off his head, sees a police officer and myself at the front door and races to the kitchen. What does the police officer do? Either he backs off, calls for back up, risks that person injuring or killing themselves or, alternatively, bolts through the door and tries to ensure that that person does not get the carving knife from the kitchen, as clearly he was trying to do. When I was with that police officer, fortunately he got there just in time. Imagine that police officer having that carving knife ripped across his shoulder. I do not necessarily think that injury would be fixed in four or six months or even a year. I am not just talking about the physical injury but also the mental and psychiatric injury, yet this parliament, thanks to both the Labor government for implementing it and the Liberal Party for supporting it, has allowed that legislation to go through.
Why should any wife or husband say goodbye to their loved one in the morning, expecting them to come home at night safe from their job, only to find they have had an accident in the workplace and that their whole life is totally disrupted because of it? Injured people have come into my electorate office and, if the physical injury did not get to them, WorkCover certainly did. I have seen no reform with WorkCover in terms of its management, its board, or responsibility by the CEO. I have seen no reform in any of those areas. The only 'reform' I have seen is to kick the worker.
I am not happy when I see an increase month after month in our WorkCover account when it comes through. I do not like that, because my input costs are already too high running our farm business. Having said that-and I pray it never happens-if any of my workers get injured I want them looked after. That is not a bad request of WorkCover: to look after them until they return to work. The ridiculous argument that everyone is out there rorting is a furphy.
There is already legislation in place for the rorter and, in fact, I used it proudly when constituents would come to me and dob them in. There is a mechanism to put an inspector after them and they go after them pretty quickly. They did not rort any more because they were not on the WorkCover system. Do not blame the rorters for this. Most people get back to work fairly quickly because they actually enjoy going back to work. However, that small percentage who cannot return to work are broken and their families are broken-and I have seen it. They end up becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs (at times). They are homeless, the kids suffer and the government has to provide all this other backup support, both commonwealth and state. What has been done in this parliament is a joke, and if I get one chance and one chance only to try to turn some of that around, I will.
I put a final challenge to the government now and the Liberal Party as well, which is in bed with the government on this-and I know why: because they were intimidated, not by the government but by others. If members of the Liberal Party had used their brains-and I bet some of them in the party room would have been raising this-they would have said, 'This is the potential ripple effect to roll the Labor government.' Make no mistake about it, I knew when the former Liberal government was in trouble on certain issues. Monitor your phone, monitor your emails, monitor your faxes and monitor the people who knock on your door in a marginal seat and you know when you are in trouble.
The ripple effect could have built up to a tsunami. If the Libs had used their initiative and not got sucked in, it could have been steaming ahead in the polls now. However, do members know what will happen at the next election? It is good for the Labor Party-very clever. They will say, 'Don't blame us for WorkCover: the Liberals supported it.' It will let them off the hook, but the poor worker and their families are the worse off. I say that it is very disappointing and I use that word underestimating how damn disappointed I am.
I say to those families that, when you are injured and all these doctors start to freak you out and all these people interview you, and your wife says, 'You are home for the third month in a row and I am getting sick of you', and the guy says, 'I am going down the pub'; and the kids miss out, the food is not on the table and everything implodes, go and talk to the people who voted for these changes and challenge them. Because, make no mistake, this will destroy families. We do not stand for that in Family First. We stand for building families and communities, and I am very pleased to see that, along with other crossbench members, my colleague the Hon. Dennis Hood voted against those mad amendments.
Kind Regards,
Daniela Trelease
Office of the Hon Robert Brokenshire MLC
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Posted by Daniela at 12:47 PM, 12/8/2008 |
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fix workcover
Time to stop the rot. We need support.
http://www.fixworkcover.org/index.php |
Posted by J Cleeland at 12:52 PM, 12/8/2008 |
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Fix WorkCover
| I have noticed a link on this site on Fix WorkCover. Its seems to be a Victorian site and i could be wrong but didnt Alan Clayton base his reforms on the Victorian Model? |
Posted by Anonymous at 6:16 PM, 12/8/2008 |
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Redemptions
| Redemptions are been paid at a rapid rate at the moment. I just hope injured workers are fully aware that there could be some scare tactics happening due to the reforms coming in next year. Remember, the last thing WorkCover would want is having to continuely pay injured workers "top up" until retirement age as stated in the new reforms. Remember a redemption can only be paid when there is a top up of $30 a week or close to retirement. |
Posted by Wright back at you! at 7:06 PM, 12/8/2008 |
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Redemptions
| Injured workers who take a Redemption will be left to fend for themselves and will most likely end up unemployed and unemployable. That money will only last you so long, meanwhile you make Workcover look good... Basically rewarding them for their negligence. |
Posted by I was sect38'd by De Poi and all i got was this lousy tshirt at 9:20 PM, 12/8/2008 |
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Be wary of investigators and Case managers making false or misleaidng statements.
Be wary of Case managers making false or misleading statements to doctors to try and increase the pressure on you.
Investigators from WorkCover have also got a history of making false or misleading statements. Just because nobody has done anything about it does not mean it has not happened many times in the past- the new Workcover Ombudsman will have to resolve these issues now as and when they arrive. It will make for interesting times as the previous State Ombudsman did little about it.
There is no need to name them here. They know who they are and that the balls will come bouncing back in their court one day...
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Posted by Anonymous at 9:34 PM, 12/8/2008 |
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Redemptions & WorkCover Lies
| In regards to comments above, if WorkCover offers you a redemption at this point in time DO NOT ACCEPT. They are only offering it to you to get you off the system as swiftly and quickly as possible to make their statistics look good. The fact is your EML case manger(s) have probably made so many mistakes in your claim (I can tell you right now that WorkCover is constantly inundated with complaints about EML case managers and the way they handle their files), that you will have a case for negligence in the way your claim has been handled. It is imperative that you seek legal counsel as soon as possible. Do not do ANYTHING your EML case manager tells you to do without legal advice. WorkCover has taken advantage of injured workers and their lack of knowledge about their rights under the WCA for quite some time, and it is more than likely that your rehabilitation consultant is working at the direct instruction of your EML case manager and is not giving you advice or proper rehabilitation. It should be made clear that both your claims agent and rehabilitation in this state has been severely corrupted by WorkCover. WorkCover is meant to be there to protect and help injured workers and employers to implement and sustain a return to work - in stead it is being abused by a corrupted WorkCover board that is extremely pro-employer and anti-worker. If your employer does not want you back EML will do everything in it's power to ensure you don't go back there - EVEN if you are fit to return to your pre-injury duties. And don't get me started on those injured workers needing to find a different employer.. EML & WorkCover are very stringent with their training and generally don't care what injured workers want - they instruct rehabilitation providers to find WHATEVER work they can for the injured worker with no though on what the worker is skilled for or whether the worker will be happy in the new job. |
Posted by Insider at 7:40 AM, 13/8/2008 |
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Lack of rehab
To Insider,
I have to agree with your views on WorkCover now wanting to redeem to hide their dirty work of the past.
Please correct me if I am wrong and I would like some views on this, but does the new legislation stipulate that injured workers have to have some sort of vocational rehabilitation into suitable employment before they can be "legally" forced off the system if the injured worker can prove that there has been no "successfull" rehabilitation. I think we all know vocational rehabilitation has been ignored by rehab companies over the last few years.
If this is the case, the practises of lack of rehab will certainly surface when they start to attempt these new reforms. So i guess the instructions would be to get rid of these issues before they have to be dealt with.
All it needs is one successfull decision in the supreme court to make it formal. |
Posted by Anonymous at 8:05 AM, 13/8/2008 |
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employment targeting report
| De Poi did a report on me some time ago but i didnt quite know what was going on. I was summoned to their offices and did all these questions and tests. When I did a 107B application I found a "employment targeting report" it was about 120 pages long with 5 job descriptions that they were trying to match me with. The pay for these jobs were less than half i was getting working at the quarry. I had no experience with any of the jobs at all. I thought to myself if I had the experience to work these jobs workcover will have to pay me a damn lot of top up for the rest of my life. anyway after about a year i had more surgery on my back and they sent me to de poi again and i knew what was going on. I again did a 107B and they sent the exact same "targeting report" 100 odd pages probaly just photocopied. I wonder how much this would have cost WorkCover. I rang my boss and told him and he could not believe the waste of money. |
Posted by car rental clerk at 9:01 AM, 13/8/2008 |
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Untitled Comment
To comment Posted by Anonymous at 8:05 AM, 13/8/2008.
EML have to prove they have rehabilitated the worker before they can force them off.
Going by experience all they can probaly prove is the total waste of Business money of trying to job match! |
Posted by Dont be fooled at 11:24 AM, 13/8/2008 |
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Investigating Claimants
Does anyone happen to know what exactly constitutes an investigation by workcover of a claimant? Is an investigation where Workcover put you under surveillance or does it involve other things as well and if so what?
Do all LONG TERM claimants on workcover get investigated or is it only a select few? Does anyone know for a fact that they have been investigated and if so how did you know?
If all long term claimants get investigated and there are literally thousands on the system (something like 3000) then that must waste an incredible amount of money. |
Posted by Anonymous at 12:52 AM, 14/8/2008 |
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LONG TERM CLAIMS UNIT
I can tell you one thing about long term claims... The majority of them are just sitting gathering dust in EML's long term claims unit. The long term claims are a major embarassment for EML and Workcover and are their biggest concern and most rehab providers balk at dealing with a claim over 3 years old because Workcover has just let the case sit there hence its very difficult to get alot of them back to work. Not to mention De Poi and other companies such as Personnel Placement (EML's preferred rehab providers) prefer easy claims that they can get off the system to make their CAPO stats look good.
Subsequently guess who is charge of EML's long term claims unit? You guessed it, corrupt Workcover board member Sandra De Poi's best mate Ruth(less) Mitchell - a very well known hater of injured workers.
In regards to investigations, there is NO END to what Workcover will investigate, nor the tactics they will use. Workcover no longer protects injured workers and helps them recover from injuries, it sees injured workers as the enemy and will do as much as possible to make a worker's life hell if it wants to. Thats what happens when yo have an entirely corrupted system that refuses to take responsibility for it's own mismanagement of claims leading to a blowout of the unfunded liability. |
Posted by Yapping Chihauhau at 2:25 AM, 14/8/2008 |
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Workcover Board - No worker representation
So who exactly represents the interests of injured workers on the Board not? Not that Janet Giles ever did anything useful, she is a total sellout to workers, and now we have a rightwing labor appointed union stooge. But why isnt a former injured worker with experience of dealing with Workcover and Claims Agents on the Board?
Also ive had dealings with Ruth Mitchell. Total b***h! |
Posted by Derek at 7:33 AM, 14/8/2008 |
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Long term claims
| Yep, long term claims will be targeted before 1st April 2009, they will be trying wage reductions, breach's the lot and maybe offer a token redemption. |
Posted by Anonymous at 11:52 AM, 14/8/2008 |
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Investigated.
To find out if you are under surveillance ask your case manager.
Make a note of their response.
Do a 107B request.
If it shows anything that has been claimed exempted do an FOI application.
Chances are that the FOI may give you more information than the 107B as the onus on disclosure falls in favour of disclosure rather than withholding ( which it does under the corrupted system know as section 107B of the Workcover Act).
I think Workcover spend hundereds of thousands of dollars targeting some injured workers whether they are sick or not just to get them back.
Rosemary told me that even Bruce Carter when he was chairman pushed the investigators to target an individual injured worker because he complained about Workcover to his member of parliament..
BTW- If your case manager starts making false or misleading statements to your doctors and rehab people and starts asking questions that are inconsistent with your injury, chances are the case manager is targeting you and you are under investigation.
Surveillance and investigation are two different things although Workcover seem to have trouble defining it as they use whatever tactics they can to push people off the system.
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Posted by Anonymous at 3:48 PM, 14/8/2008 |
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"An update of my workers compensation file held by WorkCover and or its agents
I totally agree with the above comment. You have every right to ask for 107B file. The guys down at independant unit are pretty helpful. You will be totally amazed how they treat you by some of the comments they write. Depending on how long you have had your claim you will not receive everything as it is easy to pick up when things have happened on your file without explanation. You will find in your file the case manager only communicates with rehab and yourself. You will never find communication with the assistant CM, the CM's team leader or even EML'S legal rep. If you are not happy then do a FOI (freedom of information) you will find the form here,
http://www.archives.sa.gov.au/files/forms_foi_request_for_access.pdf
It is different to 107B. Give it a go! |
Posted by Go for it at 6:49 PM, 14/8/2008 |
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Rehab file
| Are you people really that naive? Case Managers are terrible with their files and misplace documents and dont log certain actions and contacts. If you want complete evidence request a copy of your rehabilitation file, rehab consultants are required to keep detailed case notes and copies of ALL email and other correspondence and it must match up with the invoicing for auditing purposes. Your rehab file would be much more revealing and precise. |
Posted by Anonymous at 5:56 AM, 15/8/2008 |
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Rehab files
| Rehab files are a good sourse for information and the above comment is right that they are supposed to note everything. Thats why when there is a rehab meeting with Doctors they are busily writing everything down instead of actually discussing your case. I dont know why they just dont do what I do and tape record them! |
Posted by Go for it! at 7:16 AM, 15/8/2008 |
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Mike Rann 'shamed' over WorkCover by own party
Article from: Sunday Mail (SA)
RENATO CASTELLO
August 16, 2008 02:03pm
PREMIER Mike Rann today suffered an extraordinary attack from Labor faithful over the Government's controversial WorkCover laws.
In an unprecedented embarrassment for the Government, part of the 200-strong crowd at party's annual convention rose for a standing ovation during a fiery speech condemning the legislation.
The convention then unanimously censured the Rann Government for slashing workers entitlements through its WorkCover reforms and for refusing to listen to the trade union movement.
The condemnation was led by Australian Workers Union secretary Wayne Hanson who delivered a stinging speech against Labor MPs for "trashing" the traditional Labor values leading to cries of "shame" from the floor.
It came as union delegates, members of the party sub-branches and parliamentary wing rejected a plea by former Labor MP Ralph Clarke to rejoin the ALP.
As Mr Hanson moved the union-backed motion he said he spoke "not in a tone of anger, but more to say what needs to be said".
"Comrades the content of this bill is s–––, comrades this s––– has got to stop," he told delegates gathered at the German Club.
"We need to tell our Labor politicians that what they did was wrong, we need to tell the community that the industrial movement is poles apart with Parliamentary Labor on this issue.
"We need to tell Labor politicians that we expect to retain their genuine Labor values not trash them.
"It is my hope above all hope that every single delegate to this convention will stand shoulder to shoulder and side by side with the workers and support his censure motion."
His speech – watched by MPs including former Industrial Relations Minister Michael Wright who oversaw the reforms – brought a rousing applause and a standing ovation.
Mr Rann, sitting behind Mr Hanson, appeared to shift uneasily in his seat, as the union stalwart took aim at the Premier accusing him of going back on his word to protect injured workers rights.
Under the reforms injured workers entitlements have been cut in a bid to rein in WorkCover's $1billion unfunded liability.
Mr Hanson's passionate speech came just moments after Mr Rann said he was committed to the interests of workers and was not prepared to "stand by and preside" over the slow and inevitable demise of WorkCover.
"I was not prepared to stand by and watch the cost of the scheme grow thereby reducing the state's competitive advantage – maintaining the status quo was not an option," he said.
After the meeting Mr Hanson said the Rann Government had denied the union on two separate occasions to debate the legislation.
"I think that it's time our Labor politicians recognised that if they want to be in accord with the general Labor populous then they've got to consider the trade unions and they can't continue with arrogance," he said.
Labor West Torrens MP Tom Koutsantonis who supported the WorkCover changes said the censure motion now meant the party could move on.
"We've had the debate, we've had the argument and now we can move on," he said. |
Posted by Suck eggs MIke at 3:26 PM, 16/8/2008 |
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Only time will tell not Tom!
Who does Tom Koutsantonis think he is that it is over as the reforms have as yet proved to be the right decision. Only time will tell not Tom!
Labor West Torrens MP Tom Koutsantonis who supported the WorkCover changes said the censure motion now meant the party could move on.
"We've had the debate, we've had the argument and now we can move on," he said.
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Posted by Koutsantonis Electorate at 4:19 PM, 16/8/2008 |
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Memo Danielle Martin, put this on your web site!
SA unions censure parliamentary wing of ALP over WorkCover
The union movement has scored a symbolic win over the South Australian Government over the WorkCover issue at the annual Labor Party Convention.
A motion to censure the parliamentary wing of the Labor Party over WorkCover was backed unanimously.
The WorkCover legislation was opposed by unions and has resulted in the benefits of injured workers being cut.
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Posted by Anonymous at 4:22 PM, 16/8/2008 |
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Mike Rann, you just dont get it you ignorant peice of S***T
You stood by for 6 years doing NOTHING whilst injured workers were telling you!
"I was not prepared to stand by and watch the cost of the scheme grow thereby reducing the state's competitive advantage – maintaining the status quo was not an option" |
Posted by Anonymous at 4:29 PM, 16/8/2008 |
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Union Hypocrisy
| Funny the WorkCover board has always had a union leader on it and nothing has been done. Janet Giles herself was on the board while these changes in legislation were being and did sweet f**k all until she realised her top union job would be under threat if she stayed on it under these changes. And now another union stooge who supported the amendments is on the board. Perhaps the unions should also look within for traitors against workers. |
Posted by Will adelaidenow publish any comments? at 6:32 PM, 16/8/2008 |
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AdelaideNow Once Again Refuses To Publish Comments
| I notice there are still no comments published, yet on other articles put on the site after the mike rann embarassment article there are comments. What is AdelaideNow afraid of? |
Posted by Anonymous at 7:50 AM, 17/8/2008 |
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above comment
| It just goes to show there must be something to hide, which of course means someone is doing something they shouldnt! |
Posted by corrupt at 9:15 AM, 17/8/2008 |
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Dear Good News Mike,
Just some questions I would like Good News Mike to publicly answer:
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1. Why is there a workcover board member (Sandra De Poi) profiteering from the rehabilitation of injured workers to the tune of $6 million in contracts in the past 3 years?
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2. Why is workcover's lawyers (Minter Ellison) the same law firm that represents De Poi Consultancy Servies - the same rehabilitation company which has Sandra De Poi as managing director.
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3. Why despite the fact that unfunded liability has blown out further since given their contract has Employers Mutual Limited not been removed as sole claims agent?
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4. Why has De Poi Consultancy Services been allowed to employ Employers Mutual Limited management (Elaine Soloman) surely this is a conflict of interest, one of many affecting the fairness of rehabilitation not to mention the livelihood of other rehabilitation providers?
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5. Why has Employers Mutual Limited been allowed to implement a system where only 22 of workcovers contracted rehabilitation providers are sent referalls, and why wasnt this system developed by Employers Mutual Limited put out for tender to allow the decision of "key providers" to be fair and transparent?
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6. Why is Employers Mutual Limited allowed to continue to deny injured workers the option of choice in who rehabilitates them, even though in the courts and tribunals decisions have been handed down specifically stating that injured workers can choose any workcover contracted rehabilitation provider they want?
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Instead of meeting with film directors to make yourself a "good news" leader, if you could call a press conference and answer these simple questions it would be much appreciated.
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Yours,
Former labor voter who has seen and experienced workcover/eml corruption first hand.
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Posted by Sick of corrupt labor bullshit at 1:06 PM, 17/8/2008 |
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Arrogant peice of S**T
Premier Mike Rann says he is standing by changes to WorkCover legislation, amid criticism from his own party.
The annual Labor Party convention yesterday voted unanimously to condemn the changes, in a motion led by the union movement.
The unions are calling for the laws to be amended, saying they impede workers rights.
But Mr Rann is standing firm.
"The fact of the matter is that I was elected by all of the people of this state to govern in the interest of all of the people of this state, and I'm not going to be bullied by business, unions, lawyers or anybody else," he said.
"We are a Government that's prepared to make the tough decisions, not just take the easy decisions."
The president of the Australian Workers Union, Wayne Hanson, says he hopes the vote will at least open up further debate on the legislation.
"It's a pity that we had to come to the point that we came to, but I think that there are opportunities now if the parliamentary collegues are inclined to accept what we said, there is an opportunity for us to address these issues, and indeed improve the current bill," he said.
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Posted by Anonymous at 5:40 PM, 17/8/2008 |
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The true bullies
| Mike Rann was clearly bullied by Mr Vaughn and the Business reps from the WorkCover board. How else could the levy cap that Clayton recommended in his reforms be reduced? |
Posted by you cant fool the people all of the time! at 7:15 AM, 18/8/2008 |
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Mike Rann - THE DOWNFALL OF THE STATE LABOR PARTY
| Tick tock tick tock tick tock... 2010. |
Posted by Bye Bye at 10:29 PM, 18/8/2008 |
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Licence to print money.
I overheard two lawyers speaking at the tribunal yesterday. They said working for Work-Cover was like a licence to print money.
Seems they must be on the gravy boat. Someone must have slipped them a junket. |
Posted by Anonymous at 6:40 PM, 20/8/2008 |
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Lowest paid get extra $24.50
Of course Peter Vaughn would be against anything that improves worker's lives. How's the WorkCover board going Mr. Vaughn? And given that you are so FOR small businesses, then why is WorkCover and it's Claims Agent now descriminating against small rehabilitation providers in giving them referrals? Tsk Tsk Mr. Vaughn.
Posted by: Business As Usual of Adelaide 1:52pm today
Comment 2 of 19
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Posted by http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,2 at 6:51 PM, 20/8/2008 |
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Licence to print money.
To Licence to print money and Peter Vaughan:
When you think about it, The WorkCover levy is funded by Business's of this state and Peter Vaughan is a rep on the WorkCover board. If I owned a business I would be blaming Business SA chief executive Peter Vaughan for such high levies as he would have fully known where the money is going. |
Posted by Anonymous at 6:57 PM, 20/8/2008 |
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Another out of touch workcover board member
| Businesses shouldnt be blaming injured workers for workcover's problems they should be blaming the corrupt workcover board, and it's sidekick employers mutual limited who likes to bully and bullshit workers. They cant even handle simple claims effectively. As for Vaughn, again we have have a business leader who is not only earning $50, 000 a year as a workcover board member, but also earns a fortune from his work in Business SA and god knows what else. Does this scumbag even know what its like to earn a minimum wage? Obviously not. |
Posted by He works hard for his money uh huh at 8:33 PM, 20/8/2008 |
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MOoOoOoOoo
WorkCover is one giant cash cow..MOOO..
Thats the way many people employed in the system see it..
MOOOO.......... |
Posted by Betsy at 10:24 PM, 20/8/2008 |
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Milking It
| It should come as no surprise to anyone that Workcover considers itself a cashcow when its board members hand themselves $6 million in contracts, millions are wasted in frivolous legal cases and EML is wasting millions with case management negligence which causes barriers in rehabilitation. But meh, injured workeres are to blame for it all right? Right? |
Posted by Wasting money the Workcover way at 5:47 AM, 21/8/2008 |
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Business owners
| Business owners should be so angry they have been paying high levies because of the wasteful money being used on the lack of rehabilitation and frivilious legal fees from the last few years. I am sure the ombudsman (a well paid lawyer by this system himself) will be confronted time and time again by workers that the system has failed them and he would have to deal with new laws that stipulate injured workers have to be rehabilitated before they can be kicked off the system by. I feel now the business owners will now foot the bill of mass redemptions to hide the lack of rehab. |
Posted by Anonymous at 7:47 AM, 21/8/2008 |
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Untitled Comment
| Whoever is writing on this blog about business levies and wasting money should write to Business SA and tell them what he/she thinks. |
Posted by Anonymous at 8:29 AM, 21/8/2008 |
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Business SA
^
Peter Vaughan IS Business SA. He will just have a laugh with his WorkCover buddies and probably pass the info on to Queen Sandra.
Plus take a look at how much Business SA charges for some of it's business-help "courses".. they are pretty much rip-off merchants.. no wonder that have Vaughan in charge, they are fleecing businesses through WorkCover levies and their own business enterprises. The membership cost for Business SA is high, so it's laughable that Vaughan comes out in support of small business... maybe support for those who handover money to Business SA perhaps. |
Posted by $$$ at 9:08 AM, 21/8/2008 |
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getting things done
| Business spent thousands of $$$$ on the workcover reforms issue in advertisements and now $$$$$ are spent on redemptions, now thats what I call getting things done! |
Posted by Business SA delivers! at 11:44 AM, 21/8/2008 |
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suitable employment
Section 35A Section 3 Interpretation
Suitable Employment:
�� employment in work for which the worker is
currently suited, whether or not the work is
available, having regard to the following;
(a) The nature of the worker’s incapacity and previous
employment;
(b) The workers age, education, skills and work experience;
(c) The worker’s place of residence;
(d) Medical information relating to the worker that is
reasonably available, including in any medical certificate
or report;
(e) If any rehabilitation programs are being provided to or
for the worker;
(f) The worker’s rehabilitation and return to work plan, if
any.
�� It will be the role of the medical panel to determine
whether the jobs listed are “suitable”
How can a medical panel determine whether a job is suitable? Would they be aware that I may have a criminal record and 90% of employers require a police check? How can this be a medical question? |
Posted by at 6:52 PM, 21/8/2008 |
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Medical Panel..
What will the medical panel do if I want to stay at home and look after my kids now I am injured instead of working..
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Posted by On holidays at 7:30 PM, 21/8/2008 |
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Staying At Home
Er.. payment from WorkCover isn't a benefit. You should probably give up your payments from EML and go on a centrelink benefit if you don't want to work, I don't think WorkCover cover maternity leave or babysitting.
Given all the redemptions being handed out to make Mike Rann look great, there is gonna be a hell of alot of injured workers going on a centrelink benefit in the near future anyway. |
Posted by Anonymous at 8:24 AM, 22/8/2008 |
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Staying at home
I agree with the above comment about staying at home looking after the kids should not be a workcover benefit. There are some genuine injured workers who have to deal with people such as Ruth Mitchell and heartless other workcover providers because of the very low percantage of "bludgers".
Taking a redemption and going onto benefits would not be the easy way out. Centerlink will also make it difficult to stay at home.
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Posted by Anonymous at 9:47 AM, 22/8/2008 |
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Wanna Work For De Poi?
Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists
Our Company is a highly successful Return to Work Service Provider in the worker's compensation arena. Our speciality is in the delivery of appropriate rehabilitation programs for injured workers under the WorkCover Scheme.
We are seeking applications from suitably qualified Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists who can demonstrate skills in the following areas:
Job Analysis
Work Place Assessments
Activities of Daily Living Assessments
Development of graduated return to work schedules
Preparation of associated reports
Clinical Assessments
Being well organised, enthusiastic and customer focused with a results orientated approach and a sense of urgency will be important keys to your success.
We offer an attractive salary, appropriate training/supervision where required, a pleasant working environment and participation in a highly proactive, close knit team in a fast paced and competitive industry.
Successful applicants will be required to obtain a police clearance.
Enquiries and applications should be directed to:
Jenny Cremin
Operations Manager
De Poi Consultancy Services Pty Ltd
Suite D, 83 Fullarton Road
KENT TOWN SA 5067
jcremin@depoiconsult.com
http://www.seek.com.au/users/apply/index.ascx?Sequence=99&PageNumber=1&JobID=12875988
- JENNY CREMIN FORGOT TO ADD THE DIRECTOR IS A CORRUPTED WORKCOVER BOARD MEMBER WHO DOES SECT 38 DEALS WITH EML. |
Posted by Queen Bee bzzzzzzzzz at 1:49 PM, 22/8/2008 |
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seems the bad old practises are going to continue
Job Analysis
Work Place Assessments
Activities of Daily Living Assessments
Development of graduated return to work schedules
Preparation of associated reports
Clinical Assessments
No mention of rehabilitating injured workers, just job matching... |
Posted by Anonymous at 4:40 PM, 22/8/2008 |
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Employment consultants
| I have to agree with the above comment that all they are is employment consultants. Why would anyone who has a degree in Physio wanna become a job matcher? |
Posted by raponi at 5:14 PM, 22/8/2008 |
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a recent finding
It seems to me that the employer’s obligation pursuant to s 58B must take precedence over s 35. For it to be otherwise would defeat one of the main objects of the Act; the effective rehabilitation of disabled workers and their early return to work.
In my view Mr ********* is entitled to income maintenance payments at eighty percent of his notional weekly earnings less his actual earning from self-employment for the period from 12 July 2007 and ongoing until *********** returns suitable duties to him.
"the effective rehabilitation of disabled workers and their early return to work". |
Posted by Anonymous at 6:22 PM, 22/8/2008 |
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Any comments Mr Vaghn?
| Prosecution - Guilty pleas - Sentencing - Failure to ensure so far as reasonably practicable that employee was safe from injury and risks to health – Confined space - Employee required to use extension ladder to access bottom of 4.8m deep manhole - Manhole was not treated as a confined space in that: no hazard identification and risk assessment was performed; no confined space training was provided; no entry permit system was in place; no rescue equipment or retrieval system was in place; no PPE was provided; and no first aid facilities were provided - Extension ladder was in poor condition with a missing rubber boot, a missing bottom rung and a twisted leg - Top section of ladder gave way while employee was descending, causing him to fall and suffer injuries to his legs, spine and torso - Employee had to pull himself up the ladder, without use of his legs, to a point where another employee could reach down to him - Failure to report incident as soon as reasonably practicable - Reduction of penalties by 5% on account of very late guilty pleas and contrition - Held: Convictions on both charges, and fines of $30,400 and $1,425 - S 19(1) Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act - Reg 6.6.2 Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995. |
Posted by Anonymous at 6:24 PM, 22/8/2008 |
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WorkCover Gets an Ear Full
On Monday 18 August a delegation of union officials and members from the ANF, AMWU, ASU, CFMEU, ETU, NTEU and Trades Hall went to meet the CEO, Directors, board members and staff of WorkCover and WorkSafe. The meeting was initiated by WorkCover and was a round table discussion about issues affecting workers in the regional areas.
We received a good hearing and got some positive responses, although we are not happy with some of the answers, it was agreed that the forum was useful and that future feedback and discussion was a good idea.
Issues raised included;
* Union officials not being able to access workplaces even after all the correct procedures were followed.
* Not being able to represent workers even after being invited to the workplace by the Health and Safety Representative.
* The nature of Stress claims and the role of the "Hanks Review".
* Failure to prosecute breaches of the Act including not complying with "notifiable incidences".
* The limitation of the 12 months limit rule on investigations and prosecutions.
* The drop in staffing levels at the Geelong WorkSafe office.
* Protection of HSRs.
* Unsatisfactory review processes for the DWG Review.
WorkCover gave us a commitment to get back to us on a number of issues raised. It was good to see the top brass of WorkCover in Geelong and being prepared to be in the hot seat. We look forward to the next meeting to see how things are moving along. As Alexander the Great once wrote "in the end it only matters what you have done". |
Posted by Geelong TradesHall Council at 9:06 PM, 22/8/2008 |
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Why isnt this in the De Poi job description
Evidence to a Parliamentary Inquiry alleging conflict of interest and favouritism in contracts being awarded by WorkCover had to be investigated thoroughly, Liberal Member of the Legislative Council Rob Lucas said today.
“A number of very serious claims had been made by witnesses at recent hearings of the Legislative Council Statutory Authorities Review Committee,” Mr Lucas said.
Mr L Birch: “…for many years it has been well known that De Poi Consultancy Services, which provides rehabilitation services, has not been the best organisation; in actual fact, I would not touch that company with a barge pole, to be quite frank. The reality is that she [Sandra De Poi] sits on the board and, as I said before, I believe she has a conflict of interest. She has a very good relationship with Ruth Mitchell from Employers Mutual (EML), and she has relationships with people in the Labor Party. I suggest to you that that is probably one of the main reasons she gets such a huge amount of work… …
Hon RI Lucas: “…Is it your evidence to this Committee that case managers of EML have said to you directly that they have been directed by Ruth Mitchell to use Sandra De Poi for certain –
Mr L Birch: “That’s right.”
(Hansard, 7 July 2008, Les Birch, Workers Compensation Advocate, CFMEU (SA Division)
Ms R Mckenzie-Ferguson: “Yes, certain providers are favoured by WorkCover and EML. They seem to be very well represented on the WorkCover Board.
Hon RI Lucas: “Are you referring to Sandy De Poi’s company?
Ms R Mckenzie-Ferguson: “Yes.”
(Hansard, 14 July 2008, Rosemary Mckenzie-Ferguson, Founder, Work Injured Resource Connection)
Ms A Costa: “…we have an industry that, despite a number of reviews of rehabilitation, still functions on favouritism and there is no independence in selection of providers, despite what we hear.”
(Hansard, 7 July 2008, Andrea Costa, Rehabilitation Provider, Costa Pericles Consultancy)
“It should be noted that the last three Annual Reports of WorkCover report that Ms De Poi’s company received a total $6,237,809 in contracts through WorkCover,” he said.
“In his evidence to the meeting of the Statutory Authorities Review Committee, Mr Les Birch indicated he had copies of correspondence with WorkCover and Ms De Poi outlining his concerns about these issues.
“Mr Birch has agreed to provide copies of all such correspondence to the Committee.
“Whilst reserving a final view on the accuracy of these serious claims, it is my view that they must be investigated by the Statutory Authorities Review Committee and WorkCover management and the Rann Government must also respond to these claims.
“In particular, have these concerns ever been raised with Premier Rann or Industrial Relations Minister Michael Wright and, if so, what action did they take?”
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Posted by corrupt at 3:26 PM, 23/8/2008 |
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Guess who wrote this?
The make up of the Board is open to
criticism. It can be fairly asked whether a
Board which comprises of stakeholders can
ever be properly functional and capable of
making decisions for the benefit of the
organisation when the views of many of the
stakeholders are so diametrically opposed.
Another problem associated with
stakeholder representation is the
perception of self interest and conflict of
interest which was recently raised by
Mr Les Birch when commenting upon the
role of Sandra De Poi as a Board member
and owner of one of the single largest
service providers to WorkCover
Corporation.
A truly worthwhile reform would be an
amendment to the WorkCover Corporation
Act to remove the requirement that at least
four members must directly represent the
interests of employers and employees. We
should, quite simply, have a board made up
of the most qualified people to lead the
Corporation.
John Walsh
Partner
jwalsh@dwlaw.com.au |
Posted by Newell at 3:37 PM, 23/8/2008 |
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Rann - I'm not going anywhere
By the time the next election comes along, all the current injured workers on workcover would have gor their payouts (redemptions) costing business's millions (funded liability) but the real success story would be that Rann's workcover reforms would have been successfull because the unfunded liability would have diminished. Dont be fooled!
Posted by: andrew pascoe of burnside 4:58pm August 22, 2008
Comment 50
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,24223061-2682,00.html |
Posted by reader at 6:08 PM, 24/8/2008 |
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Wasting Money Saving Money
^^
not before corrupt rehabilitation providers like De Poi Consultancy Services make some more millions by bullshitting around injured workers on behalf of Employers Mutual Liars, isn't that right Sandra? ;) |
Posted by Sandy's ever-expanding bank account at 7:50 PM, 24/8/2008 |
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Anti-Worker-Cover
Yes well Sandra De Poi is very influencial within the business community (and legal community - her legal team are also the same who represent WorkCover). Her father was a very prominent anti-worker/pro-business leader, and she is not only the board member of several companies, but she also donates a large amount of money to both the Labor and Liberal parties. The only reason she been allowed to stay a board member of WorkCover is because of her connections within the Labor party and business.
I'm actually more disappointed in in injured workers not standing up for their rights. So many seem to just sit back and do whatever WorkCover/EML tells them. If injured workers actually stood up in unity against these acts of repression by WorkCover, made it known through the media (one must wonder why Today Tonight hasnt done a major expose of the WorkCover system in a system of stories, naming names etc - I think there were one or two stories but not enough to warrant much attention), I think things may change more. I'm not blaming injured workers entirely at all, but I think their compliance and lack of knowledge about their rights have added to WorkCover and EML's freedom to treat WorkCover claimants as "bludgers".
Right now we have WorkCover & EML having total control of an injured workers claim, including who rehabilitates them.. and we have a WorkCover board that is EXTREMELY pro-employer and anti-worker.
Working in the workers compensation industry and dealing with WorkCover on a day to day basis I can tell you of many claims where an employer is NOT fulfilling their obligations, and EML just lets them get away with it, meanwhile when a worker doesn't do what EML wants they are threatened with a breach and loss of entitlements. There are clear cases of bias in support of employers - and this is due to several facts, those being the make-up of the WorkCover board (i.e. Sandra De Poi - who owns her own rehabilitation company - and suspiciously recieves a large amount of rehabilitation referrals from EML & Peter Vaughan - a man who has shown he is very anti-worker, and just believes in making money for Business SA - an organisation that PROFITS from businesses). Then you have EML itself, whose management openly brag about injured workers being "bludgers" and who's entire systems of operations are in "secret" and certainly not as transparent as they claim.
It comes as no surprise to people like myself that EML are now offering injured workers redemptions at a rapid rate. They have been instructed by WorkCover to do so, who in turn have been instructed by Mike Rann to do so. As stated above, in 6-12 months time Mike Rann will look like a "hero" who saved WorkCover through Labor's reforms (which actually would have had nothing to do with it). Unfortunately what we will also see in a year or so is the state unemployment rate increasing, not to mention those on a disability benefit increasing, and a lot of injured workers who will be long-term unemployed due to a lack of rehabilitation, and having a WorkCover "stigma" on their backs, leading potential employers to look the other way. |
Posted by Psychologist at 6:23 AM, 25/8/2008 |
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Job advert of a Claims Agent that cares for rehabilitation of injured workers...
Claims Assistant - Administration
CBD Location...
Career Development Opportunities...
Bonus Scheme...
Employers Mutual is a Workers Compensation Case Management Specialist who operates as the sole agent for Work Cover SA. We are an outcome focused company who has a successful and dynamic team of Case Managers.
We are currently seeking a Claims Assistant to join our busy and successful Claims team. This role will be reporting to the Team Leader and the successful applicant will be responsible for:
Claims Administration – Data Entry, Organising appointments, investigations;
Developing and maintaining relationships with Work Cover SA, employers and injured workers;
Customer service – taking general phone enquiries and
General administration – filing, mail, faxes and photocopying.
This is an exciting opportunity to be exposed to Case Management and to join an outcome focused business. The successful applicant will ideally possess the following attributes:
Sound PC skills – MS Word and Excel;
Typing Speed – 40 WPM
Excellent Communication skills – Verbal and Written;
Previous experience in an Administration role and
The ability to work pro-actively supporting a motivated team.
This is a full time permanent position working core business hours 8:30am – 5:00pm. We offer continuous learning and career development opportunities to our employees, a genuine work / life balance and the chance to work as part of a team!
If you would like to apply for this position, please click on the link below. To find out further information, please do not hesitate to contact Lisa on 08 8127 1436 or visit our website www.employersmutual.com.au.
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"WE ARE AN OUTCOME FOCUSED COMPANY"
- What about rehabilitation?
- What about successfully getting people back into work, rather than giving them quick redemptions to make your "outcomes" look good?
"SUCCESSFUL AND DYNAMIC TEAM OF CASE MANAGERS"
- I'm sure there are MANY injured workers and people who deal with WorkCover issues who would dispute this. It's often the anti-worker attitude of alot of case managers that stand in the way of a successful rehabilitation.
"SUCCESSFUL CLAIMS TEAM"
- Yes the unfunded liabity shows that. How much has it increased again since EML was given the contract?
"REPORTING TO THE TEAM LEADER"
- Let's hope it isn't Ruth(less) Mitchell, or you will be quitting within the month.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY SEE WHICH BUSINESSES ARE MAKING ALOT OF MONEY OFF OF THE SA WORKERS COMPENSATION SYSTEM. WE HAVE REHABILITATION COMPANIES SUCH AS DE POI AND INSITE WITH FREQUENT JOB ADVERTS ON SEEK AND EML ADVERTISING EVERY MONTH (probably because there is a high turnover of staff).
I WONDER HOW MUCH MONEY IS ACTUALLY GETTING TO WORKERS AND THEIR SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION INSTEAD OF GOING TO CORRUPT CLAIMS AGENTS AND REHABILITATION COMPANIES THAT ARE OWNED BY BOARD MEMBERS OR TO PAYING OFF INJURED WORKERS WITH REDEMPTIONS TO MAKE MEDIA-MIKE LOOK GREAT IN A FEW MONTHS, MEANWHILE THEY WILL END UP UN-EMPLOYED, UN-SKILLED AND UN-REHABILITATED. GREAT SYSTEM WORKCOVER HAS GOING.
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Posted by just a claims number to workcover at 2:14 PM, 25/8/2008 |
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Vale Harry
| I hear on the grape vine workcover's "harry" took a redemption! |
Posted by D.Martin at 7:54 PM, 25/8/2008 |
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Harry - Another WorkCover Failure & Waste of Money
| Poor Harry. Hope he got a decent payout. |
Posted by Better Together at 6:01 AM, 26/8/2008 |
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Harry
Poor Harry, he was promised he would be rehabilitated, his family was brought into the nightmare, thousands of $$$$$ was spent on his file (advertising) and the system failed. Now he is on the scrap heap.
Just like every other worker who has had a workplace accident! |
Posted by Better together (Ruth and Sandra) at 7:39 AM, 26/8/2008 |
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SA the backwater state!
Will South Australia follow Victorias footsteps? after all the new reforms are based on the their current model.
"The Victorian government will consider ripping up WorkCover laws and rewriting the legislation under a proposal that could cost employers up to $146 million a year.
A leaked review of the Accident Compensation Act, obtained by the state opposition, recommends replacing the legislation with a new act".
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Posted by Peter Hanks vs Allan Clayton at 7:50 AM, 26/8/2008 |
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Labor & Wasting Money Go Hand In Hand
| Ah, Labor & WorkCover. They sure know how to waste money, don't they? I guess businesses only have themselves to blame for the high costs and for supporting stooges like Peter Vaughan & Mike Rann. But then if they are happy to let corrupt board members such as Sandra De Poi run the costs into the ground so be it. It will eventually come back and hit them where it hurts... politically. |
Posted by Anonymous at 9:19 AM, 26/8/2008 |
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Another De Poi Job Advertisement
This time done in "secrecy" through an employment agency...
Rehabilitation Consultant
Leading Occupational, Injury Management Consultancy Service
Diverse, Innovative, Modern Environment
Our client is South Australia's largest and leading provider of occupational risk management, injury management and health consultancy services. They offer clients a totally integrated approach to injury prevention, injury management and health promotion in the workplace. As part of a structured expansion, they are looking to appoint a new staff member to assist in meeting the requirements of their clients.
The successful applicant will enjoy being part of an already well established team of friendly and professional rehabilitation consultants, you will be highly self motivated, professional and flexible with a strong work ethic.
Your competencies, skills and background will be:
Tertiary qualification in, social work, rehabilitation counselling, psychology, health sciences, occupational therapy, physiotherapy or speech pathology
Previous experience as a successful Rehabilitation Consultant
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Good team player
Show enthusiasm, initiative and dedication in your work
Professional membership will be looked upon favourably
Proficient in WorkCover and Comcare vocational rehabilitation standards
This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of an extremely successful organisation that reward and recognise their staff and really believe in the individual.
Like to know more?
To submit your application, in strict confidence, please apply online using the appropriate link below. Alternatively, for a confidential discussion, please contact Kay Backhouse in our Adelaide office on 08 8223 8800, quoting Ref No. BZ/27580
Your interest will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
http://www.seek.com.au/users/apply/index.ascx?Sequence=46&PageNumber=1&JobID=13726521
REALLY SANDRA, YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS. |
Posted by bZZZZZZzz at 9:55 AM, 26/8/2008 |
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