Connect and Care
Connect and Care was developed to strengthen leader-injured worker relationships in government agencies exposed to complex trauma.
Explore the resources and information below to find out what Connect and Care is about, how it can benefit your agency, and how to get access to the program.
We've also put together an interactive eLearn that will take you through all the key information you need to know.
Launch Connect and Care eLearn
icare, QBE and the Department of Communities and Justice developed Connect and Care to upskill managers with the tools and knowledge they need to better manage psychological injuries, support injured workers and get them back to work.
Connecting and caring for injured workers
In 2019, employees at Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre suffered physical and psychological injuries from an inmate riot. From this flash point icare, QBE and the Department of Communities and Justice developed Connect and Care, a best practice training program that helps leaders better handle the impact complex workplace injuries have on their workers.
The interaction between leader and injured worker in the recovery and return to work process is often overlooked, yet they can have such positive impacts on the injured worker. Research has shown that strengthening relationships and engagement between direct line managers and injured workers can improve their recovery outcomes and optimise their engagement with the workplace.
Three key benefits of Connect and Care:
- Injured workers will get best practice support from their line manager and workplace.
- Line managers will increase their competence and confidence to support vulnerable workers and apply appropriate self-care.
- An agency should achieve a reduction in complex workplace injury claims, increased productivity and positive workplace engagement.
Connect and Care workshops
Connect and Care is based on guidelines developed with academic and industry experts. It's a six-hour education program for line managers with pre and post-workshop activities.
Delivery options
- one day face-to-face
- three two-hour workshops run over consecutive days or a week apart. These workshops can be face-to-face or virtual.
Workshop topics
- CONNECT with each other, explore the world of the injured worker, describe trauma-informed care and the Workers Compensation environment.
- CARE for injured workers leveraging best practice guidance through effective leader/worker interactions whilst promoting proactive self-care strategies.
- CONNECT AND CARE to develop a tailored action plan to apply and embed the learnings in your organisation.
The experiential education intervention features a robust co-design element that leverages participants' experience and invites them to shape how Connect and Care is actioned in their organisation. An integral activity is the development of the Implementation Plan that facilitates participants' ideas on how to embed the program in their team's culture and processes.
The target audience for the Connect and Care workshops is typically line managers in operational roles leading and managing front line workers.
How do agencies get access to Connect and Care?
Agencies can opt for the Train the Trainer delivery method or apply for an icare-facilitated Connect and Care Line Manager Program for a cohort of line managers.
Train the Trainer
One day face-to-face workshop to learn how to set up and deliver the program in your agency, and gain access to all the program materials. Typically, an agency would send a small team of people from return to work, injury management, workers compensation, human resources and/or learning and development.
This option is recommended for larger workplaces with the capacity and expertise to facilitate the Connect and Care workshops within their own workplace.
Line Manager (agency-specific) Program
An agency can apply for an icare-facilitated program to be run specifically for a cohort of 8-20 of their line managers. The program can be run as three two-hour face-to-face or virtual workshops, run on consecutive days, a week apart, or as a one-day program.
This option commended for small or medium workplaces who have limited capacity to facilitate the Connect and Care workshops within their own workplace.
Connect and Care checklist
Connect and Care was guided by the icare-created 'Checklist for Employers–Engaging Workers after Psychological Injury'. Based on claims trends, return-to-work patterns and employer feedback, the checklist was independently reviewed and validated by Griffith University. Their findings confirmed its suitability in helping employers build best practice competence in responding to psychological injury claims.
Connect and Care background reports
The preliminary and final reports detail the development and implementation of Connect and Care from inception to the successful completion of numerous pilot programs including the results. The reports should be read in conjunction.
Awards
The Australian Business Awards 2021
Connect and Care has been recognised as the ABA100 Winner in The Australian Business Awards 2021 for Product Innovation.
Industry Champion 2020
Connect and Care was selected as Industry Champion for Excellence and Innovation in Injury Management for 2020.
Related downloads
What is Connect and Care?
icare, QBE and the Department of Communities and Justice developed Connect and Care to upskill managers with the tools and knowledge they need to better manage psychological injuries, support injured workers and get them back to work.
Watch the video below to understand how Connect and Care can help you connect with injured workers.
