Monday Muses ~ news X 3 ??????

Actually what started out as just 2 bits of exciting news has now morphed into 3 bits of news.

Firstly as many of you already know I sit as an Executive Judge on both the New South Wales/ACT and South Australian Community Awards. This year Craig’s Table is the sponsor for the New South Wales/ACT Connecting Communities Award. It is a major step for Craig’s Table to have our name attached to what is one of the most prestigious Awards here in Australia.

Next again the vast majority of you know that I hold WorkCompCentral and the Comp Laude Awards and Gala in high esteem- it is odd to think that it is 5 years back since I spoke at Comp Laude in Burbank. This year I was to present “my journey” through the People’s Choice segment of Comp Laude, instead I will be having a conversation about the journey that has been taken and what it is that is now happening with my work and with Craig’s Table.

As everyone knows speaking at such events is just the start point for other side conversations. For me it is going to be a juggle over the next two weeks for schedules and international time zones. There has already been a bit of interest in just what it is that Craig’s Table has on offer that is not available in America. Along with where to next. It really is “gotta love Zoom” moment in Craig’s Table.

Sometimes thoughts just arrive and they dance around in my mind for a while, kinds like the smallest Lego block. It is large enough to know it is there strong enough to hold its ground but not quite formed into anything other than its original self. Such was the thought that started after a chance conversation with a man sitting at the next table at my local coffee shop about 2 months back. Derick is no ordinary man; he has been in a wheelchair since he was in his early 30’s. Derick has just turned 81. Derick told me about his career as a teacher and the challenges he faced of needing to supply his own ramp to get in and out of the classroom of needing to prove every day that teaching from a wheelchair was no different than teaching standing up. I asked Derick what his largest barrier was, he thought for just a few moments and answered “petty ignorance”. Derick had to work in order to support his family and pay the mortgage. Derick did what needed to be done, no excuses, no back-down and no plan B; Derick just got on with life. It was that kind of serendipitous conversation that just leaves a person inspired. Derick said he didn’t think twice about any of it; I just imagine the life lessons he passed on to his students and to the community he taught in. I was actually quite sad when Derick’s granddaughter arrived to collect him.

The idea although I was aware that a seed had been planted was not really ready to be seen. Another few Lego blocks needed to “arrive”. Sleep is something that I have struggled with for many years so I listen to talk back radio to keep me company through the night. There in the middle of the darkness came the next Lego block: Entertainment Assist is offering everyone help though the covid 19 pandemic. I jotted it down on the notepad. The next Lego block arrived again via the radio last Thursday afternoon as I listened to an interview for Veterans Mental Health Week  I listened to what was in place and why it was important not just prevent the myriad of challenges around homelessness and suicide of our veterans but the help that the families also require. Then came this newspaper article Bob slept on trains. Now he has a home. The fix was simpler than you might think ways forward need never be complex; they are just ways to be tried and tested and improved up.

On Friday I was reviewing the 2 workers compensation review submissions I am writing. This required printing them out, going for coffee. Its important to know just what the documents will look like when they are printed. I always take my note book and pencil case with me. What started out as one coffee turned into 3 coffee’s and several notes written as the trip down memory lane took hold, the challenge from The Marksman to build the better “mousetrap” the thought process of looking to see what isn’t there, what needs to be there and what needs to be done in order to build the framework. Only the way several more Lego blocks “arrived”. As I finished the last coffee I remembered The Marksman telling me one afternoon “never throw a pebble in a pond unless you want to create ripples”. I remember exactly where we were sitting at the time, I remember he picked up a pebble and he threw it into the River Torrens, we watched the ripples spread out.

Over the weekend the idea was growing to the point where I understood what was forming and why. I also knew what my first requirement would be this morning. Write to the minister. (The last letter I wrote to the minister was in regards to establishing a injured worker suicide prevention Commission) One does not write to a minister unless one has a reason and the required outcome needs to be explained. Having settled that action was to be taken, I was still missing some of the formula.

One of the submissions I am writing is about the need to engage the for purpose not profit providers into the workers compensation process because the workers compensation system is at a choice point for that particular jurisdiction. Real conversations are being had, conversations that include the injured worker community. It is moving away from the myopic Darwinian concept of competition into the quantum concepts of cooperation/collaboration. It understands that Newton’s Law says that once something is in motion. The motion will continue until “something” arrives to change alter the motion/direction/outcome. The overlay of thought processes is such that I really only have time to scribble notes and collect them in random form.

The idea formed itself in ways that made perfect sense (to me) what does the injured worker community need? What was it that Entertainment Assist and Veterans Mental health week saying, what had Derick passed on to me, what was The Marksman’s ripple analogy actually showing me? What was it that could be set in place and what was the desired impact?

UFCW observes Injured Workers Day – June 1, 2020

The concept I have written to the minister about this morning is the need to put in place what I am calling Injured Worker Wellness Week to run from the 31st May till June 4th 2021. The aim is to focus on positive ways forward, to enable the injured worker community, to give them resources and ways forward so that they know that it is their right and their responsibility to enter and exit the workers compensation process as quickly as is possible. Just to be clear right from the outset, what Injured Worker Wellness Week will be focused on is positive ways forward, things that they can and should do in order to build their own futures. All of it on line as a permanent resource to be referred to when needed.

The various segments will include dental health, nutrition, exercise physiology, music as pain management, medication and road rules, resume writing, financial management, emotional growth (thanks Toni) yoga, coffee and chat. Conversations with the Paralympians, along with as much fun as possible by including laughter lessons.

The need for sponsors etc has just started to formulate. The need for information sessions to be selected and then scheduled in over a week. Along with that also comes the need for a working party.

These last few months have been very difficult, which is why when I stop for a break through the day you will oft times hear me playing Rodney Atkins If You're Going Through Hell the song makes me smile and I keep on going, the needs from the injured worker community just keeps growing. Every week there are calls for assistance that need to be worked through. Injured Worker Wellness Week may just be the boost that so many within the injured worker community and workers compensation process need to help get everything back on track as we regroup and move into 2021. I look forward to actually working on this project; if you are interested in being a part of it please email me at [email protected]

For now it is time to make a cup of tea as I prepare some dinner. Tomorrow is judging day for South Australian Community Awards then Wednesday I am catching up with one of my favourite people for coffee. Before I go the last word goes to Sonia McDonald 2021 Awards Partnership and the Leadership Essentials Course .

Yours in service

Rosemary

I do need to add two thank you's before I go, Margaret Spence thank you for just being amazing and a never ending source of inspiration for me and Yvonne (Wylie) Guibert for being the wondrous friend over the last 5 years.