Psychological ServicesPsychological Injury Management.
Registered Psychologists, Rehabilitation Counsellors and Occupational Therapists who help injured workers overcome the psychological barriers blocking a safe, sustainable return to work.
The short version
KINNECT Psychological Injury Management is a coordinated, evidence-based service that helps injured workers overcome the cognitive, emotional and behavioural barriers that delay or prevent return to work. Delivered by registered Psychologists, Rehabilitation Counsellors or Occupational Therapists, it includes comprehensive assessment, coordination of treatment, progress monitoring and tailored return-to-work programs. Suitable for workers compensation claims, employer-funded files and early-intervention referrals across Australia.
Managing psychological injuries in the workplace.
Traditional workplace health and safety practices rarely account for the prevention and management of a worker’s psychological wellbeing, leaving employers exposed to preventable workers compensation claims and significant mental health conditions.
KINNECT’s Psychological Injury Management service brings registered Psychologists, Rehabilitation Counsellors and Occupational Therapists together to assess, coordinate and actively manage psychological injuries — restoring confidence at work and protecting workplace culture along the way.
What an emerging psychological injury looks like.
Psychological injuries often present long before a claim is lodged — including PTSD, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, phobias and adjustment disorder. Early signs cluster across cognitive, emotional and behavioural changes.
- Significant changes in behaviour
- Difficulty concentrating
- Lack of energy
- Difficulty managing tasks
- Deteriorating work performance
- Excessive worrying
- Panic attacks
- Emotional reactions
- Increased workplace conflict
- Social withdrawal
- Low morale
- Increased absenteeism
- Alcohol and substance use
The barriers that keep workers from returning.
Recovery from injury is shaped by interacting biological, psychological and social factors. Engaging a Psychologist as early as possible helps the worker understand, manage and resolve the underlying processes — the single biggest contributor to long-term, sustainable return-to-work outcomes.
- 01
Capacity vs. demand
Mismatch between physical and mental capacity, activity level and the demands of the role.
- 02
Beliefs about work
Personal perceptions, beliefs and behaviour relating to work, recovery and identity.
- 03
Workplace relationships
Strained relationships with managers and co-workers that erode trust and motivation.
- 04
Supports and attitudes
Supportive conditions at work and prevailing attitudes towards health and disability.
A coordinated, end-to-end service.
Case management of psychological injuries — delivered by an Occupational Therapist, Workplace Rehabilitation Consultant or Registered Psychologist depending on the worker’s needs.
- Comprehensive psychological assessment and reporting
- Coordination of treatment with the worker’s treating team
- Frequent progress monitoring and case conferencing
- Development and implementation of a return-to-work program
- Liaison with the employer, insurer and treating practitioners
- Delivery in clinic, onsite or via secure telehealth
Three actions that change return-to-work outcomes.
Research consistently shows that what the employer does in the first days and weeks after a psychological injury has more influence on the outcome than almost anything else in the file.
- 01
Early contact
Workers who receive early contact from their workplace after a psychological injury return to work more successfully than those who receive no contact.
- 02
Employer support
Workers who feel actively supported by their employer at the time of injury are documented to return to work sooner.
- 03
Help with claims
Employers who assist with the lodgement of workers compensation claims directly improve return-to-work outcomes after psychological injury.
Who can be referred.
Referrals can come from an insurer, employer or worker. KINNECT delivers Psychological Injury Management nationally — in clinic, onsite, or via secure telehealth where appropriate.
- Workers with an accepted psychological injury claim
- Workers with a secondary psychological injury arising from a physical claim
- Employer-funded files where psychological barriers are blocking recovery
- Early-intervention referrals before a claim is lodged
- Insurer, employer or worker-initiated referrals nationwide
Find a KINNECT clinic near you.
Explore our current clinic locations. Service availability varies by clinic, so contact us to confirm the right location for this service.
Queensland
New South Wales
Victoria
Western Australia
South Australia
Northern Territory
Psychological Injury Management — answered.
The questions employers, insurers and workers most often ask before referring.
Why manage psychological risk in the workplace?
Psychological injury claims account for a significant share of absenteeism costs. In Australia, around 7,200 employees are compensated for work-related mental health conditions each year, mental health represents about 6% of all compensation claims, and roughly $543 million is paid annually in workers compensation for work-related mental health conditions.
Who delivers KINNECT’s Psychological Injury Management?
Depending on the worker’s needs, the service is delivered by a Registered Psychologist, a Workplace Rehabilitation Counsellor or an Occupational Therapist. KINNECT’s multidisciplinary team has extensive experience in workplace injury management and psychological injury counselling.
Who is responsible for managing psychological hazards?
Under the WHS Act the employer is ultimately responsible for managing or eliminating hazards that could result in physical or psychological injury — including providing a safe environment, implementing safe systems of work, monitoring health conditions and consulting with workers on potential risks.
What is the employer’s role in psychological injury management?
Research consistently shows three actions positively influence return-to-work outcomes: early contact from the workplace after the injury, visible employer support during recovery, and active assistance with lodging the workers compensation claim.
When should we engage a psychologist?
As early as possible. Early psychological assessment and counselling helps the worker understand, manage and resolve the cognitive, emotional and behavioural processes underlying the return-to-work barriers, and is associated with more sustainable long-term outcomes.
Explore the rest of our Psychological Services.
A complete bio-psychosocial toolkit — from early intervention through to capacity evaluation and dispute resolution.
Adjustment to Injury Counselling
Targeted counselling for workers adjusting to traumatic stress, psychological injury or mental illness.
Learn morePsychological Capacity Evaluations
Independent capacity evaluations informing return-to-work and fitness-for-duty decisions.
Learn moreWorkplace Counselling
Early-intervention counselling to address psychosocial risks before they become a claim.
Learn moreFacilitated Discussion
Non-legal, voluntary dispute resolution where workplace conflict is blocking return to work.
Learn moreTelehealth Psychological Services
Secure telehealth psychology sessions for distributed, regional and remote workforces.
Learn more
Move quickly — outcomes start with early contact.
Refer a worker, scope an early-intervention program, or talk to our team about how Psychological Injury Management fits alongside your existing rehabilitation and claims setup.