An icare-backed social enterprise for injured workers will soon open its doors in Girraween, with an information evening set on Feb. 18 for injured workers, scheme agents, rehabilitation providers, and other interested participants.
Craig's Table is a first-of-its-kind early-intervention program, “designed and led by injured workers, who support each other to regain the confidence and capability to transition back into employment,” said Rosemary McKenzie-Ferguson, founder and pioneering social entrepreneur.
Supporting the program with a $500,000 seed funding was the icare Foundation.
“We are investing in Craig’s Table in Western Sydney because its philosophy of training through peer-to-peer sharing and mentoring is an innovative way to support injured workers to return to work and life,” said Amanda Keogh, icare Foundation general manager. “If it works well, it will be scaled up to other areas in NSW to support the ongoing transformation of the workers’ compensation system. icare’s goal is to help people in their recovery by empowering them to return to work and to life with renewed confidence and new skills leading to new opportunities.”
Eugene McGarrell, icare’s general manager for health and community engagement, said Parramatta was chosen because there are more than 750 injured workers in Western Sydney who have been unable to rejoin the workforce for more than 12 months.
Mckenzie-Ferguson said the first training program starts in February, with some 50 to 60 injured workers expected to join. The first part of the training focuses on rebuilding the confidence and capability of participants, including upskilling in areas like emotional intelligence, mental health, financial literacy, information technology, and manual handling.
“The second stage reintroduces participants to the community and the workforce through our social enterprises,” Mckenzie-Ferguson said. “Here they train to take up new opportunities in their own communities. The icare Foundation funding has gone towards setting up the engagement and rehabilitation functions, which include an op shop, a community garden and a café. After two years, we anticipate being self-sustaining.”
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