Workers’ Compensation – Workplace Injury

Early intervention

Early intervention aims to prevent or minimise the impact of a new work-related injury or illness, and the deterioration of any existing injuries or illnesses. Early intervention recognises the importance of early treatment and support in the workplace to facilitate return to work and return to health outcomes.

Benefits of early intervention include that it:

• creates a productive and supportive workplace
• demonstrates the employer’s commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of its staff
• prevents long-term absence from the workplace and the development of chronic illness including secondary psychological conditions, by intervening and providing early support to prevent injuries from escalating
• improves and promotes a positive safety culture in schools and workplaces
• increases management involvement in the injury management process
• provides health and wellbeing benefits to staff associated with productive work
• reduces indirect costs to the school/workplace, such as lost productivity, recruitment and training costs for replacement staff by preventing staff taking time off work due to injury
• returns injured workers back to their activities and the ability to enjoy a healthy, active, socially engaged lifestyle
• improves injury outcomes.

School leadership teams can create a safe and supportive environment that protects workers by:

• implementing the OHS Risk Planning and Management policy and the Psychological Safety and Risk Management policy to ensure effective planning, monitoring and reviewing processes are in place, including an OHS risk register, workplace inspections and risk assessments to reduce the risk of injury
• implementing the OHS Consultation and Communication policy to ensure effective systems are in place to identify and consult on workplace hazards, including regular communication forums
• undertaking training in effectively managing health and safety in schools (refer to the Health, Safety and Wellbeing for school leaders training available for school leaders and business managers through the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership)
• promoting the health, safety and wellbeing supports available to all workers, including the Employee Wellbeing Support Services and other expert supports
• actively supporting a strong reporting culture by encouraging school staff to report all hazards, risks, near misses, incidents and injuries to the principal or their delegate, using eduSafe Plus, and analysing these reports regularly
• if an injury does arise, taking quick action to contact the worker to discuss supports available to them.