VOISE (Vocational Interventions for Sustainable Employment) Project
Description
This is a collaborative study between the RECOVER Injury Research Centre and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Queensland and ABIOS.
The study aimed to
- Document the current vocational rehabilitation policies, services and pathways for persons with brain injury in Queensland.
- Identify areas for improvement in the pathways, tools, processes and resources to support providers deliver best practice vocational rehabilitation services for persons with brain injury in Queensland.
Rationale
The lifetime cost of severe TBI is an estimated $4.5 million per person with a component of these costs due to lost productivity associated with poor levels of return to work (RTW). The timing of and methods for implementing vocational rehabilitation services varies with the individual’s stage of recovery, pre-injury education and employment status. The changing landscape in which disability support is provided in Australia necessitates the documentation of current vocational rehabilitation services and pathways for persons with TBI to ensure equity and access to best practice.
Participants
Participants were selected for their unique knowledge and experience in vocational rehabilitation of persons with TBI in the public and private health systems.
Six groups of stakeholders participated
- Consumer representatives
- Brain injury rehabilitation clinicians
- Vocational rehabilitation providers
- Insurance authorities, regulatory bodies representatives (e.g. Department of Social Services)
- Disability employment service providers including Supported wage assessors
- Expert consultants
Key Features
Strong involvement of various key stakeholder groups
Translational focus on identifying ways to improve vocational rehabilitation services for people with ABI in Queensland
The first study in a research agenda focused on vocational rehabilitation
Funding
This study was funded within the research budget of the RECOVER Injury Research Centre and Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service
Research/Evaluation Strategies
Qualitative descriptive methodology, guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), was used to gather data from information rich participants to systematically categorize factors influencing the implementation of VR for adults with brain injury in Queensland. Five stakeholder groups, including consumers with brain injury (n=10), Queensland Health clinicians (n= 21), external VR providers (n=4), insurance authorities / regulatory body representatives (n=12), and disability employment service providers (n=5) participated in interviews or focus groups. Data collected were analysed using the CFIR approach and/or a thematic analysis. A stakeholder workshop was held in November 2019 with 50 attendees from a diverse range of backgrounds including consumer advisors, clinicians, vocational and employment service providers, insurers and peak body representatives to further explore perspectives about the identified areas for improvement.
Outputs and Outcomes
All focus groups indicated that the VR pathways in Queensland are complex and difficult to navigate and made more complex where there is limited VR funding available to the person. Due to the complexity of existing VR pathways, significant importance can be attached to targeted VR strategies/ approaches, education and engagement with stakeholders and employers to improve service provision and outcomes for adults with acquired brain injury. While the process of improvement is ongoing, there is general consensus for a collaborative approach that extends to the community that engages and connects employers and service providers to maximise VR outcomes for consumers.
Publications
Brackenridge, C.L., Leow, C.K.L., Kendall, M., Turner, B., Valiant, D., Quinn, R., & Johnston, V. (2021). Exploring the lived return-to-work experience of individuals with brain injury: Use of vocational services and environmental, personal and injury-related influences. Disability & Rehabilitation, https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2021.1903101