Monday Muses ~ the dance continues

Last week I attended 2 very different sessions, the first was Kevin Humphreys walking us through his journey. Kevin’s story speaks of a topic that we all need to become far more comfortable discussing- contemplated attempted and completed suicides. Never once at any of the conferences I have attended has the reality of a considered suicidal journey been presented. We are encouraged to ask if another person is okay and we now have a list of resources to refer to; however, we simply do not hear the “why” of the journey or what the “reach point” is for the person who has arrived at that destination. If you have never heard Kevin or if you are looking for a keynote speaker, I urge you to have a conversation with Kevin. What I discovered for myself may appear odd, when I spoke with him, I said that my own journey though different to Kevin’s as with Kevin I was seeking peace from a situation that was untenable and beyond my ability to control. Again, I believe that Kevin’s story is an important broader conversation starter.

The other presentation was an industry workshop. I understand the importance of lived experience I am exhausted by the excessive tokenistic approach that far too many coordinators take for those of us who attend with personal and professional knowing of what life within the injured worker community truly is. I am also exhausted by being asked to answer the same questions and discuss the same topics that have been “flavour of the month” for the last 20 years. Not one part of the workshop was new, not one question was new, not one answer was different to any other answer. Not one plan to re-invent the wheel put forward had not been seen before. The people attending may have been different, I will admit I am not a Pink Floyd fan but it really is past time the system paid heed to what is said (and has been said for many many many years) and explained in good faith by multiple members of the injured worker community instead of just ticking the “injured worker(s) in attendance box”. As I have said before consulting does not equate to listened to.

The difference between the two sessions was very stark, Kevin Humphreys engaged with everyone and answered questions with raw honesty, the workshop was scant more than an industry required to engage with the least number of people from the injured worker community as possible. Those of you who know me also know that I provided the coordinator with far more information than the industry will be comfortable with. How the system handles the information is yet to be seen, what I do know is I can support the information that was provided.

I am in a fortunate position to be invited to review all manner of books. Without revealing the book I have just finished reviewing and in keeping with the above frustrations I want to quote a passage “Customers don’t come in looking to fight-they come in to solve a problem. When they get upset it’s normally because we have added some element of stress to their day via our resistance. If signs have to be erected to ask customers not to yell at your staff, its probably time to ask, why are they yelling?” The other book I am reading is What We Owe Each Other page 2 “…the social contract requires the consent of the majority and periodic renegotiation as circumstances change….” Once more referring to the above passages “consulting does not equate to listened to.”?Sadly I am reminded of a senior workers compensation manager after a morning tea said “I didn’t know that they were so angry and so needy.” The manager then skedaddled out never to be seen again.?The workers compensation industry does have a duty of care and a social contract with and to the injured worker community, at Craig’s Table we have always held the door open for the industry to come in, I can’t promise what the industry will hear will be polished or polite but it will be the unvarnished truth.

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A quick update on letters written, this week I am shaping a letter that will go to yet another high ranking official in regards to the requirement to recognise the Australian injured worker community.

For now though it is time to prepare dinner before the next round of Zoom meetings starts.

Yours in service

Rosemary