INJURED worker Annette Thorncraft says her recovery from a serious workplace accident has been more difficult than it should have been because she wasn’t given a 12-page WorkCover NSW brochure outlining her rights and entitlements.
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Mrs Thorncraft, who suffered a severe fractured tibia when she worked as a teacher/librarian at an Orange school, said it should be mandatory for injured workers be given the information.
She said it would have helped her navigate her way through the medical and legal requirements associated with workplace injury.
Mrs Thorncraft only accessed the “mind-blowing” information by chance around a month ago, 15 months after her injury occurred.
The information outlined what compensation she was entitled to, what rights she had when selecting a doctor and returning to work.
Mrs Thorncraft said had not been officially supplied the information by doctors, rehabilitation professionals, or her employer, and she is not a current member of a union.
“There must be lots of people out there in the same position who are having problems with the way the process works,” she said.
Mrs Thorncraft said she would have made a lot of different choices about the treatment of her injury had she known her rights.
She said her health and well-being had suffered as a result of her lack of information.
Injured Workers Support Network convener Joe Maric said Mrs Thorncraft’s story comes as no surprise.
He said injured workers generally just followed the instructions of their employer’s insurance company.
“This is standard,” he said.
“Most injured workers have no idea how the system works.”
Mrs Thorncraft said she feels she’s been left to muddle through, and it’s taken a toll on her.
“Who is looking after the workers? Where is their care?” she said.
The Injured Workers Support Network will be holding a meeting at Kelly’s from 5.30pm tonight.
tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au