KINNECTer makes finalist list for Comcare National Work Health and Safety Awards

KINNECT’s Nundah-based Lead Consultant and Accredited Exercise Physiologist Sarah Jefferies has made the finalist list for the Comcare National Work Health and Safety Awards for 2023. This is an exciting achievement as it is the first time KINNECT has submitted a nomination for this award program, making it a true testament to the exceptional work of our highly skilled people.

The Comcare National Work Health and Safety Awards “recognise and reward excellence in workplace health and safety achieved by employers and individuals operating across Comcare’s scheme.” The individual Contribution award celebrates the achievements of people who have gone above their normal work duties to make a remarkable difference to their workplace through safety initiatives that demonstrate best practice, innovation and impact.

Sarah, an experienced workplace rehabilitation consultant who has worked with KINNECT for three years, is a finalist for the Individual Contribution Award – Operational Champion Award category. She was nominated for her leading role in growing KINNECT’s Comcare customer base in an increasingly competitive Workplace Rehabilitation Provider (WRP) landscape. Her contribution and the continued development of internal Comcare expertise has seen KINNECT become a WRP of choice for a significant number of the current Comcare licensee organisations.

Sarah has become KINNECT’s lead Comcare Consultant and Subject Matter Expert (SME) allowing us to deliver and achieve positive outcomes for our regular Comcare clients, assisting with the management of their workplace injuries. This has required a significant investment of time and expertise to make the highest level of training, quality assurance and mentoring available within the business to help consultants meet Comcare scheme requirements. Additionally, she has worked to ensure processes, procedures and day-to-day tasks regarding the delivery of services to Comcare clients follow best practice, are carried out at the highest quality, and reflect the nuances of Comcare scheme workplace rehabilitation – many of which aren’t seen in state-based schemes.

The work Sarah has completed for our business includes collaborating with Comcare customers in the development of service level standards, development and presentation of training sessions with our staff members around the country and conducting file reviews and audits to ensure both compliance within the scheme, and that rehabilitation programs are developed and managed with clear and appropriate strategies that deliver return to work outcomes. Sarah has also worked with stakeholders to develop templates compatible with KINNECTs internal case management system (Carelever).

The nomination process for the awards began with a written submission, after which Sarah was invited to be interviewed by a panel of Comcare judges who inquired about how she has built KINNECT’s Comcare portfolio, identified skills and resources gaps, developed training resources, conducted training and undertaken account reviews and consultant case reviews.

“Over the last year, Sarah has completed a large volume of work across the business in the Comcare space. Although I know she doesn’t do this for the accolades, she has earned, and thoroughly deserves, the recognition,” said Nundah Team Manager Jake Dornan.

Sarah, who spends four days per week working in an occupational rehabilitation consultant role, and one day per week as a dedicated Comcare lead, said that learning she was a finalist “was a bit of shock. I didn’t know the nomination had gone in until I was through to the second round. It’s nice to see recognition internally from my colleagues, from our customers and from the industry in general.

“Since I’ve started branching out to do this work, running training in other states [after rolling out initially in Queensland], and now have more formal responsibilities, the recognition has been really nice to receive. Comcare work can be quite challenging so it’s great to be acknowledged for identifying the gaps and simplifying processes and supporting KINNECT staff to do it,” Sarah said.

Comcare is the national authority for work health and safety, and workers’ compensation. They are a government regulator, workers’ compensation insurer, claims manager and scheme administrator who promote the health benefits of good work.

Winners of the Comcare National Work Health and Safety Awards will be announced on 9 November at a lunch in Canberra.