Victorian Injured Worker Outcomes Study (VIWOS) advisory committee member

Description

Overview Nearly 8% of workers entering the workers’ compensation system in Victoria are still receiving wage replacement benefits at 130 weeks post claim acceptance. Although this is a small proportion of accepted claims, these workers are those more likely to have complex health conditions and also represent a substantial cost to the workers’ compensation system. There is currently very little known about employment and other health, social and economic outcomes or the impacts on other government sectors for these claimants, particularly after cessation of benefits at around 130 weeks. The Victorian Injured Worker Outcomes Study aims to gain a better understanding of these claimants during the period of their claim and what becomes of them following their exit from the Workers’ Compensation System. The research findings from this Study will identify ways to deliver better outcomes for these types of claimants and the workers’ compensation system. Study Design and Project Objectives The duration of the project is two years (1st July 2015 – 30th June 2017) and uses a mixed methods approach including qualitative research and retrospective analysis of the Compensation Research Database (CRD). This will help inform the planned longitudinal study of long term injured workers, including data linkage. Although this research program relates particularly to long term injured workers in Victoria, it will have national importance as other jurisdictions are considering or adopting similar policies in terms of benefit termination and/or transition. Research Team: Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health - Prof Malcolm Sim, Associate Professor Peter Smith, Dr Helen Kelsall, Dr Agnieszka Kosny, Ms Elizabeth Kilgour, Institute for Safety Compensation and Recovery Research - Prof Alex Collie Advisory Committee Role An Advisory Committee is being formed to represent key stakeholders in the field who can advise the research team of relevant issues and provide comments on materials such as important themes to cover during individual or focus group interviews with workers or key informants and in study questionnaires. In turn it is envisaged that the Advisory Committee members will also have a role in seeking advice from and providing information on the study back to the relevant organisations and practitioners as well as considering the findings of the study and practical and policy implications.

Period	12 Oct 2015 - 2018
Held at	Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences