Professor Sir Mansel Aylward CB
Chair, Public Health Wales, UK
(through video conference)
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Session title: Tackling barriers to recovery and return to work: Securing behavioural and cultural change

Session description: Mansel discusses his research into biopsychosocial factors that play a fundamental role in illness, recovery, retention and probability of return to work. He will also look at individual interventions based on cognitive and behavioural methods which also address socio-cultural factors that substantially facilitate return to work for injured employees and those who have health-related problems.

John Marshall
Australian Paralympian/Police Officer, NSW
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Session title: When life seems unfair, you need to get up and get on with it

Session description: John believes that returning to work after an injury is one of the most important things a person can do to aid their recovery. After being forced into a drastic change of direction in his career, John acknowledges that through retraining and determination new doors have opened that have given him an enormous sense of pride and self-esteem as a contributing team member.

John Robinson
Director of Corporate Support, Public Television New York, USA
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Session title: Overcoming obstacles – Off to work!

Session description: As a congenital amputee who stands 3'9" tall, dealing with people's first impressions in a sales career is seen as a major obstacle by others. John is proud to share his stories of overcoming perceived obstacles, especially in the workplace. He shares stories of great business success in spite of what others see as physical limitations.

Dr Mary Wyatt
Chair, Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Policy and Advocacy Committee, VIC

Dr Robin Chase
President, Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, SA
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Session title: Being out of work is more dangerous to health than working in any of the high risk industries

Session description: A few months off work – sounds like a great idea to most people. The reality is different when a person is off work with a medical problem. The health consequences of being out of work are significant for the worker and are a major public health issue. The Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's position statement Realising the health benefits of work will be presented and discussed.

Kevin Morris
Director Clinical Services, Accident Compensation Corporation, New Zealand
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Session title: Health and work – Better @ Work, putting the evidence into practice

Session description: The Better @ Work philosophy is based on an emerging body of research which shows that rehabilitation or early return to work after an injury provides significant clinical, social and financial benefits to patients. New thinking emphasises focusing on work capacity rather than incapacity, which enables workers to gain these benefits by recovering in the workplace.

Coralie Wales
Chronic Pain Consultant, Chronic Pain Australia, NSW
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Session title: The individual worker in the context of 'the system': Insights into the dynamics of square pegs, round holes and chronic pain

Session description: This experiential session will highlight chronic pain challenges but also constructive strategies for policy makers, employers and health professionals in workers compensation systems. Coralie Wales will introduce an injured worker who has been through the 'system' in order to help us better understand the lived experience and how it could be improved.

Dr Mary Wyatt
Chair, Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Policy and Advocacy Committee, VIC
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Session title: Underuse vs overuse – Which is worse at work?

Session description: Despite growing perceptions that workplace activities cause and complicate injuries, the evidence does not support this. Musculoskeletal injuries are the most common form of workplace-based conditions but are poorly understood. Health and safety approaches may be contributing to injuries, and too little activity may in fact be the primary cause of a large percentage of musculoskeletal problems.

Radek Stratil
Clinical Psychologist, SA
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Session title: Helping injured workers recover while staying at work

Session description: This session aims to discuss practical workplace strategies to support and involve injured workers in recovery from common work-related injuries while minimising time away from work. The session will also provide an update on current evidence-based information and include findings from a current study on psychosocial risk assessment and intervention designed to help prevent long-term disability.

Richard Sauerman
Communications Expert, NSW
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Session title: The power of communication in a return to work outcome

Session description: A recent study listed ‘communication skills’ as the #1 most desired characteristic in an organisation. The same applies to the return to work process, a process that involves many individuals – doctors, case managers, employers, rehabilitation providers – working towards the same goal, returning the injured worker back to work as soon as possible. The role of communication when there are many different parties is critical in ensuring a great outcome. Each of us has the capacity to be a great communicator, if we can get in touch with and release that part of us. In this session Richard will share his ideas on communication, why it’s so important and what it takes for you to be a better communicator to influence those in the return to work process.

Rob Pisano
Manager Health & Safety SA & NT, ANZ, SA
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Session title: Health, safety and wellbeing – Building a better system to build better culture and outcomes

Session description: The session explores the positive impact of an effective health, safety and well-being system in building a proactive health and safety culture. This has led ANZ to achieving better outcomes, including prevention of injury or illness, early return to work and increased staff engagement and performance. It will demonstrate how everyone in an organisation, from executives to the front line, has a role to play in ensuring health and safety adds value to your business.

Ron Harvey
Compliance and Training Coordinator, Dennis Transport, Port Lincoln

Bill Hudd
Staff Development Manager, Banner Hardware, Mt Gambier
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Session title: Back on track – Helping injured workers return to work

Session description: Hear first-hand from some outstanding local employers who have managed challenging return to work cases by developing useful tools and using new approaches to support their workers. Learn about the benefits your organisation can receive from improved injury management and a strong focus on helping injured workers to recover and return to work.

Julia Suban
Principal Consultant, Diversify Your Solutions, VIC
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Session title: A healthy return to work journey

Session description: To achieve a healthy return to work for an injured worker and their employer means knowing the barriers and factors for successful return to work. The Nurses Return to Work in Hospitals Project undertook research to identify these barriers and factors, and utilised the findings in achieving a healthy return to work for nurses. The findings are applicable to all industry sectors.