Early Intervention Programs - Strive Occupational Rehabilitation

Strive has over 20-years’ experience in the provision of return-to-work services (RTW), early intervention services and delivery of training for organisational development, with its Principals and many of its consulting team having delivered RTW services and training as a core capability over their working career. The experience held within the Strive team has been gained by working with a number of government organisations, large insurers and private sector customers in the development and delivery of RTW and training services that identify ways better to manage an employee’s health and wellbeing.

Over the past three financial years alone, Strive has provided over 39,000+ hours of return-to-work support and training services on over 4100 cases. During this time Strive’s return to work/stay at work percentage is 91.3%.

Traditionally Strive is known for providing complex psychosocial case management, and of the 1200 to 1500+ referrals we receive each year, approximately 60% have a psychological condition, conflict component or a complex injury exacerbated by a psychological condition. Strive is also widely considered to be an expert in the field of managing complex physical injuries or complicated worksite / functional assessments to support a return to work.

What is the purpose of an Early Intervention Program?

At Strive we understand that Early Intervention is critical to supporting anyone back to work or to stay at work. We offer early intervention program referrals where we can undertake a needs assessment to help you determine a supportive plan of action to help your staff stay at work, or to re-connect to work in a meaningful and safe way. This can include both psychological and physical conditions as we employ Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Exercise Physiologists, Psychologists and Rehabilitation Counsellors.

An Early Intervention Program is beneficial to help understand any current barriers (work or non-work related) that may be impacting on an individual in the workplace. Barriers can be related to multiple aspects of a persons life which is why Strive adopts a biopsychosocial approach to identify what may be impacting on the individual, and what supports can be put in place to help the individual remain at work or to return to work early.

What does an Early Intervention Program at Strive look like?

Following receipt of a referral, Strive will conduct an initial assessment which may be in the workplace, at Strive or in the community to help identify the individuals current functional capacity and barriers. The assessment will typically involve engagement with all the key stakeholders including the line manager, other key workplace contacts and the treating team where indicated to capture a holistic picture of what may be occurring.

Following the assessment, Strive will provide recommendations for rehabilitation goals and an ongoing rehabilitation plan to support the individual remain at work or return to work. Often this will also involve Strive providing ongoing support sessions with the individual to teach a variety of practical evidence-based tools, strategies and techniques to progress towards the identified rehabilitation goals. The ongoing support sessions can be delivered in-person, via MS Teams, over the phone or a mix of all three.

Regular updates are provided back to the referrer as part of the service to help track progress and effectiveness of the Early Intervention Program. These updates are balanced with respect to the individual’s privacy and confidentiality.

What are the benefits of an Early Intervention Program?

There are many benefits to early intervention for individuals, workplaces and the community:

Faster Recovery and Return to Work: Early intervention helps employees recover more quickly and return to work sooner. This is achieved by providing timely and appropriate treatment and support.
Targeted Support and Rehabilitation Services: It allows for the provision of targeted support and rehabilitation services, addressing specific needs and concerns of the employees.
Enhances Employee Health and Wellbeing: By addressing health concerns early, it enhances the overall health and wellbeing of employees.
Reduces Absenteeism and Improves Productivity: Early intervention can significantly reduce absenteeism and improve productivity by minimizing the impact and duration of injuries or illnesses.
Promotes a Culture of Wellness and Employee Engagement: Implementing early intervention programs promotes a culture of wellness and increases employee engagement.
Minimizes Impact and Duration of Symptoms: Acting early helps to minimize the impact and duration of emerging symptoms or actual injury or illness.
Prevents Onset of Symptoms: Early intervention can prevent the onset of symptoms or aggravation of underlying conditions or diseases.
Return on Investment: Research indicates that employers who invest in early intervention programs at their workplace can achieve an ROI of between $2 to $5 for every $1 spent.