Monday Muses ~ podcast, news article and a long awaited launch.

Thank you to everyone who contacted me last week about the slip I had and the impact the slip had on me. For the first time in many many years I actually had to re-schedule a face to face meeting simply because the pain in my being was not willing to allow me to travel into Sydney. I am much better this week, I truly do appreciate everyone's care.

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As you know I listen to the radio and to podcasts and I share interesting information with you. I don't know if you find the various podcasts of value, in someways all of it is me thinking out loud. However when I listened to this interview last week [18th November 2022 at 4.30am] even though it is about road safety, I knew I had to share it with you. Road Safety with Russell White For me the importance was the way everyday common description of a road incident has been reframed, and in the reframing we are able to place into a whole different context how we view the impact and the outcome from road violence.

The reason I am sharing this with you is quite simple. Words are important, how we use words, how we describe an event frames images and tells a narrative that informs us. For instance when I say "wedding" immediately your mind projects a happy event, happy people, laughter tears of joy smiling happy and loving couple-not a negative thought anywhere. Yet the same word can be used to describe a forced marriage or even a child bride. We know these things happen, yet because the concept is abhorrent out mental imagery doesn't form those images.

At Craig's Table there are words we simply do not use. Strange as it may seem we do not use the term injured worker; we say a person from the injured worker community. We say this because first and foremost this person is a real person, they have a name and identity, they have a family, they have their hopes and dreams, they have an injury, they are not nor will they ever be their injury.

All of this is important- as Russel White says the way we speak and the way we understand is important- it provides a truth we believe we can rely on. I have long since stopped counting the number of people who "know" without question the massive number of people who are rorting workers compensation. We have all heard the urban myth, "every injured worker is ripping off the system, they just want an extra holiday" and so it goes. Yet when asked "have you reported Mr or Ms X" the answer is no, its none of my business. It is "amusing" when I am asked "why do I defend them" by people who do not know me and I respond with "I am one of them" there is "that" shuffle of feet and an awkward change of subject. Change the narrative, change the way we think and understand and change the required belief process requires the workers compensation industry to actively engage within the injured worker community. We are not a computer generated claim number, nor are we a cost centre, we are people with a name with hopes and dreams just the same as everyone else.

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Once again in today's paper there was yet another article regarding a "required" increase in the cost of workers compensation premiums here in New South Wales. And tucked into the content was this short sentence of yet another review. I am left with a vexing question of "why" followed by "could this have anything to do the the article from Return to Work Matters Case manager whistle blower says workers deserve better" It would be interesting to know what the trigger point actually was.

This was my response- I have to admit, I really didn't think it would be published.

As I have written here so many times the answer to all of this is the creation of a minister for Injured Workers. Again it is change the way the system engages with members of the injured worker community and that will change the outcome for everyone including employers who are paying for a system that doesn't serve them or members of the injured worker community.

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Last week saw the launch of WorkCompCollege as with all launches, it did't go off without a hitch, but it is now live and that is the main thing. Robert Wilson Mark Pew and Donald A. Abrams along with all the all the Deans and the rest of the Facility have been working very long hours to reach this point. Please sign up for the newsletter if you haven't already done so.

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Time for a late afternoon cup of tea, it's a tad too early for dinner, but I do need to check the garden after todays wind storms- not sure that the Sweet Peas will have enjoyed being battered and blown around.

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Before I Go Guy Sebastian

Just before I do go here in many many parts of Australia we are experiencing some really wild weather, so please everyone stay safe.

Yours in service

Rosemary