At IPAR, we support people to return to health, wellbeing and work after an injury or illness.

We are asked by workplace insurers to team up with you, your health treaters and your employer to create a plan that focuses on your needs to recover and to return to work quicker. Our job is to listen to you, guide you through the process and provide you with honest and clear communication.

When we work with you our service includes:

• Providing early support to help you stay at or return to work following a non-work related injury or illness
• Providing rehabilitation services to assist you make a return to work after a workplace injury or illness
• Meeting face to face with you to discuss your needs and current situation
• Providing support to help you achieve your rehabilitation and return to work goals
• Ensuring good communication between you and your employer, treaters and Case Manager
• Meeting with your treating GP to discuss your condition, recovery and return to work plan
• Developing a plan based on assessments and the recommendations of your treaters
• Helping your employer identify suitable job tasks that suit your recovery plan
• Directing you to the most appropriate person to answer queries about your rehabilitation progress and return to work

Our services do not include:

• Providing specific advice regarding your entitlements and workers compensation payments
• Changing your plans without consulting your treaters and insurers
• Asking you to do something outside of your agreed plan

Regular meetings and contact with your IPAR consultant will ensure there are plenty of opportunities to review your goals, your progress in achieving key milestones, and discuss any challenges you may be experiencing.

You and your IPAR consultant will discuss mutually agreeable time and frequency of meetings and contact to suit your specific needs and other commitments.

Treaters are the doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists or health professionals that are helping you get better.

When we say “OES” we mean Original Employer Services. This service is aimed at supporting you to return to work with the employer where you were injured.

When we say “NES” we mean New Employer Services. This service assists you to find new employment if it is deemed that you cannot go back to the employer where you were first injured.

No. IPAR’s services are free to you. Our costs are paid for by the insurance company, just like the costs of your Doctors bills.

No. IPAR is an independent company. This means we work for ourselves.

We are asked by the insurance company to help you through the process of returning to work and better health. While we do work closely with everyone (you, your treaters, your employers and the insurer) our job is to make sure your needs and best interests are taken care of.

Returning to work will help you recover faster, as well as relieve any stress that may come from not working. Research has shown that working is good for general health and wellbeing as well as social interaction and confidence.

Returning to work can actually make you feel better earlier.

There is extensive evidence that shows that being at work is good for both physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Working will keep you active, moving and social, making you feel stronger and happier, and assists in the recovery from many conditions. Conversely, not being at work can have negative health impacts and slow down your recovery, as it may prevent you from being active and social.

Let your consultant know if you feel you can’t go back to work. We will speak to your treaters to look at different ways to help you get ready. It might mean that we look at alternate duties or hours, to help you return to work one step at a time.

You do not have to be fully recovered to return to work. You will return to work when you can do suitable tasks that fit in with your treatment and recovery plan. This may mean you will do different tasks than your regular role or that you attend for only a few hours a week. As you get better your tasks and hours will increase until you are feeling suitably recovered to return to work completely.

We will speak with your employer to help identify tasks which are suitable to do with your rehabilitation. If no suitable tasks have been identified by your employer we will speak with your insurer to find other ways to support you.

If your workplace injury or illness prevents you from returning to your old place of work, we can help you explore re-deployment options or we can help you find a new job with a new employer.

We will help you prepare a résumé, apply for jobs and prepare for job interviews. We also have relationships with local employers, so may be able to find a suitable role for you with these employers.

This is a step to help you find a new job role. We will ask you questions about your skills, past jobs, abilities and goals to help you find new suitable work that you can apply for. Our role is to help you refine and develop your job seeking skills and we will help you look for new employment opportunities.

When you come along to your first meeting with your NES Consultant, please bring along any past career, training or education documents you feel may assist you and help us find the right role for you.

A Vocational Assessment is a step to help you find a new job role if it is deemed that you cannot return to your pre-injury role. We will ask you questions about your skills, past jobs, abilities and goals to help you find new suitable work that you can apply for.

When you find a new job we will continue to support you. For the first 13 weeks we will talk with you, your new employer and your treaters to make sure you are adapting to the job well. We will help you keep to your treatment plan and answer any questions or concerns you have. You can also contact us at any time if you have a question or need support.

No. But we are able to work with you and your treaters to identify access to additional supports to minimise financial burden. This may include facilitating treatment under medicare rebate plans at reduced costs, locating government and community based programs, and additional hardship support.

IPAR understands the unique needs and challenges in operating your own business whilst being unwell. IPAR will meet with you initially to gain a full understanding of your current situation, challenges, and identify ways to support you in your recovery. Depending on your work and business situation, IPAR can facilitate additional support to assist you in reviewing your business needs and identify ways to support you and the viability of your business.

IPAR is not a recruitment agency. We work closely with you to help you develop or enhance your existing skills to improve your prospects of locating suitable employment, and confidently apply for work independently. IPAR works closely with you to identify employers that can be cold canvassed for roles. IPAR does not recruit for roles, however IPAR’s relationship with key employers generates job vacancies for different roles. These can be reviewed with you individually to assess their suitability in light of your goals, skills and experience.

As we work through your recovery we will need to talk about and share the medical details of your injury or condition with the people involved in your return to work. This could include your employers, your treaters, other health carers, insurers, as well as any third party you request to involve, such as a family member.

Your privacy is important to us. We will make sure all your personal and medical details are kept confidential and only shared with people involved in your recovery and return to work. If you have any questions about privacy, please email us at privacy@ipar.com.au.

IPAR is part of the MedHealth network. For more information about MedHealth, please feel free to visit medhealth.com.au.