In the past year, 688 workers compensation claims have been lodged in Kiama and Nowra, well above the NSW average.
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According to icare, formerly known as Insurance and Care NSW, in the Nowra/Kiama region there is a workforce of nearly 31,000 people, covered by around 4,700 policies, with 688 workers compensation claims having been made in the past year.
Even though retail, construction and hospitality are the three main employer groups in the region, manufacturing has the highest claim frequency, at 52 per 1000 employee, and the highest number of claims, at 180.
This claim frequency is 86 per cent higher than the NSW manufacturing average of 28 per 1000.
On average 22 workplace claims are lodged per 1000 employees, higher than the stat average of 15 claims per 1000 people.
According to icare’s relationship manager Maddi Bailes, psychological claims account for around three per cent of those in the region.
Employees with psychological claims across NSW return to work after 119 days on average, compared to the average time off work of 40 days in the Nowra/Kiama area.
“It makes sense to be focused on building a psychologically resilient workplace culture. This starts with prevention of psychological injury at work and also providing support for workers who may be experiencing a problem,” Ms Bailes said.
To ensure stronger mental well-being for business owners and employees, icare has partnered with a mental health agency called Everymind, which is dedicated to the prevention of mental ill-health and suicide.
“Our research found [small business owners and employees] may be more likely to be affected by poor mental health than the general population,” Ms Bailes said.
“Our team of injury-prevention specialists will be partnering with NSW businesses even more closely to provide support, and work with employers to develop practical improvement plans.”
In a bid to bring down the region’s high rate of compensation claims, icare hosted a forum in Nowra on June 21.
“The forum was a chance for local employers to find out more about new ways of preventing workplace injury and helping people return to work and recover sooner,” Ms Bailes said.