@Trinny61, one of our loyal readers and formidable contributors found this very interesting website, called ” The Great WorkCover Debarcle by Mark M Aldridge and was extremely kind to share it with us and our readers.
WorkCover SA worker rehabilitation system: an independent probe by Mark Aldrige
Interestingly, it appears that Mark Aldridge is also being threatened with litigation in order to “shut him up”.
A statement on his site reads: “Important info found during my investigations has been removed due to continued threats of litigation so I suggest doing your own research on the board of directors and any latest Work Cover contracts, also Work Covers extensive holdings V unfunded liability”.
WorkCover SA worker rehabilitation system: an independent probe by Mark Aldridge as taken from his website
AN INDEPENDENT probe into WorkCover’s worker rehabilitation system – released under the cloak of Easter – has found it is a multi-million dollar failure for the health and well-being of injured workers, “continuing the same saga suffering workers have endured for far too long” says Mark Aldridge local independent candidate.
The Walsh Report was uploaded on the WorkCover website on Easter Thursday, with the hope, no one would notice with the long 5 day Easter break, earlier the same day it became apparent, two senior executives were suddenly given their marching orders.
The “Vocational Rehabilitation Report” is dated March 2011 but was carried out between August and November last year by Price-Waterhouse-Cooper investigator John Walsh, the report was commissioned by WorkCover under pressure from the escalating cost of workers’ rehabilitation services, which showed the usual lack of improvement in putting injured workers back to work.
It is obvious the board took their time to try and put a spin on the outcome, and it could be the use of scapegoats was the only avenue to lesson the impact.
Walsh points to a “compensation culture” where ongoing payments are placed above the rehabilitation support that injured workers deserve to get them off the scheme and back into the workforce.
While this situation is allowed to continue, the WorkCover system will struggle financially, says Mark, and Mr. Walsh has confirmed the very same sentiments.
Based on interviews with 51 stakeholders in the claims and rehab system, the report finds fault in several key areas. “In this report we have found that to date the scheme shows little evidence of improved return to work performance, in spite of very heavy referrals to and cost of vocational rehabilitation compared to comparable schemes,” Walsh reports.
WorkCover, is fixated with paperwork, and continue be unable to learn from their mistakes, an emphasis on cost control rather than rehabilitation and a poor success rate in getting injured workers back to work, has become an ingrained problem, I suggest looking into contracts and where they are awarded, if one wishes to lay blame.
Servicing about 53,000 employers and 430,000 employees in SA, WorkCover estimates 34,000 workers are injured each year. According to its 2010 annual report, the return-to-work rate was just 37 per cent for workers who were injured in the previous one to three years, comparing these rates with other comparable interstate and overseas operations, clearly shows WorkCover are a colossal failure.
The Labor parties habit of filling boards with “Jobs for mates” begs the question, could WorkCover and the many contracts awarded by them, be accused of the very same self-interest, in one case a board member with a dynamic Labor history, also is the recipient of several very lucrative rehabilitation contracts, something I will cover in detail very soon, Mark hints.
One would have to wonder if WorkCovers huge unfounded liability will eventually undermine our states AAA rating, it is no wonder there is an the usual silence around this report, let alone any transparency regarding the board itself, and their legal attacks on those that try and ensure the public rightfully know what is going on, is indicative of the way in which they have operated for far too long now.
I will release full details of my investigations in the coming weeks, once I can “legally” confirm all the details, then lets see if both WorkCover and the State Government can continue to sweep such important truths under the rug.
*** Change is Necessary ***
We say THANK YOU to Mr Mark M Aldrigde for digging up and exposing the dirt and we are truly HORRIFIED that Mr Mark Aldridge has been SILENCED by WorkCover & Government!
Perhaps try and show Mr Mark Aldridge YOUR support, visit his website, email him, write to him…anything to show a token of your (injured worker) appreciation to a politician who is damn hard trying to make a difference for us!
Direct Email address is aldridgemark@bigpond.com or please feel free to use the website’s contact service.
Shortlink: http://aworkcovervictimsdiary.com/?p=6623
Thank you Mr Mark Aldridge for trying so hard to publish your investigations. Thank you for standing up for injured workers and their rights and thank you for being our injured voice(s).
It is DESPICABLE that they SILENCED you under threat of litigation – there goes freedom of speech! The mere fact that they did so is again PROOF that they did wrong and that they are/were DESPERATE to keep a lid on their can of worms. Hell, they even tried to shut us up, a simple but STRONG injured workers’ blog who’s doing NOTHING wrong but telling the truth, backed up by real evidence! That is how pathetic they are.
The fact that Mr Aldridge was SILENCED is definitely PROOF that workcover SA is hiding something terrible, why else would you silence somebody? It’s absolutely DISGUSTING and all people involved should hang in SHAME. I wonder how these creeps sleep at night.
I Google “Sandra De Poi” and found some interesting stories in relation to this article.
See https://encrypted.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=frgbld&gs_nf=1&cp=13&gs_id=c&xhr=t&q=Sandra+De+Poi&pf=p&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&oq=Sandra+De+Poi&aq=0&aqi=g2g-v2&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=7a9f0fe79139f290&biw=1450&bih=750
Thank you so much again, None – you’re a real Treasure Hunter and deserve our Treasure Hunter Award of the MONTH!
The following Google search appears to be pertinent to this article https://encrypted.google.com/#hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=sandra+de+poi
How very interesting!
Opposition sued over WorkCover news release
Posted August 01, 2011 13:45:35
South Australian Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond and her industrial relations spokesman Rob Lucas are being sued for allegedly defaming a member of the WorkCover board in a news release.
The release put out earlier in the year questioned a Government investigation of WorkCover and the awarding of contracts worth about $6 million to De Poi Consulting Pty Ltd, a company run by WorkCover board member Sandra De Poi.
It provides workplace injury management and occupational rehabilitation.
The news release said Ms De Poi was partner of Labor MP Leon Bignell and had been part in handing out ‘dodgy how-to-vote cards’ at the 2010 SA election.
In papers filed in the Adelaide District Court, Ms De Poi said she had been embarrassed and her reputation greatly injured by suggestions in the release her company used her ties with the Labor Party to its advantage and did not compete fairly for WorkCover contracts.
She said the release was published to a substantial but unquantifiable number of readers and implied she lacked integrity.
Ms De Poi is seeking damages, costs and interest.
In defence papers, Ms Redmond and Mr Lucas said the news release presented an expression of honest opinion in the public interest.
The statement of defence said the release was not concerned exclusively with Ms De Poi but dealt with wider issues related to WorkCover’s allocation of work to rehabilitation providers.
It said the release was not defamatory and simply called for answers to questions and for an investigation into the methods of allocation of such work.
In the defence, both Ms Redmond and Mr Lucas said the news release was covered by qualified privilege, as it constituted a discussion of Government and political matters.
They said it was reasonable in the circumstances to post the articles online and denied Ms De Poi was entitled to damages or other remedies.
The matter is to return to court later in the month for a settlement conference.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-01/workcover-redmond-lucas-defamation/2819532
Wow, very very interesting – thank you so so much for sharing the dirt
How very interesting too! Thankyou my friend
STATE Opposition leader Isobel Redmond and minister Rob Lucas are being sued for defamation by a member of the WorkCover Corporation board.
Sandra De Poi has lodged separate claims against both Liberals in the District Court for damages allegedly incurred by a press release earlier this year.
Ms De Poi – managing director of workplace injury management and rehabilitation provider De Poi Consulting Pty Ltd – claims she was defamed by comments made by Mr Lucas in Parliament and repeated in a media release on Ms Redmond’s website.
Mr Lucas raised questions in Parliament about an independent review into the 2008 WorkCover Act changes and a huge increase in contracts to Ms De Pois company since 2008.
In her statement of claim, Ms De Poi, says the comments implied she lacked integrity.
“(They meant) she did not compete fairly in the market place in securing rehabilitation work for (the company),” it says.
“(They imply she) obtained an advantage in securing rehabilitation work through her close Australian Labor Party connections and thereby lacks integrity.”
“The words set out (in the release) were defamatory of (Ms De Poi) and defamed her in her occupation and profession.”
The claim against Ms Redmond asserts the comments were available to an “unquantifiable” number of readers because it was published on a website.
It says this has greatly injured Ms De Poi’s reputation, causing her embarrassment, distress and economic loss.
In their defence papers, Ms Redmond and Mr Lucas assert the article was first published on her website in mid-March but was removed or substantially edited by early April.
Ms Redmond says the article, in its natural ordinary meaning and context was not defamatory as alleged by Ms De Poi.
She asserts the media release and comments dealt with the wider issue of WorkCover’s allocation of work to rehabilitation providers.
She asserts WorkCover’s annual reports showed an increase of contracts allocated to De Poi Consulting from $2.7 million in 2007-08 to $5.9 million in 2009-10.
Ms Redmond further claims the comments are protected by Parliamentary privilege, and outlined her honest opinion about industry and public concerns regarding WorkCover practices.
“The article was published during discussion of a government and/or political matter and the defendants conduct in publishing the article was reasonable in the circumstances and thus was published on an occasion of qualified privilege,” says her defence.
Mr Lucas says he took the proper steps to verify the accuracy of the material relied upon for the purposes of compiling the article.
Both matters are scheduled for settlement conferences later this year.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/workcover-board-member-sandra-de-poi-sues-liberal-party-politicians-isobel-redmond-and-rob-lucas/story-e6frea83-1226106009855