Journal Question 1
Read the following article, available on LMS in the Assessment folder:
The mental health benefits of work: do they apply to poor single mothers?
Denise Zabkiewicz
i) Provide a brief summary of the study design, aims and method.
ii) What were the key findings?
iii) Discuss the implications of these findings on the psychology of work.
Journal Question 2
Both the WorkCover and Comcare schemes emphasise the importance of the workplace in effective occupational rehabilitation.
i) Why is the workplace important in occupational rehabilitation? (use references to support your response).
ii) A relationship break down has occurred between the employer and injured worker. As a Rehabilitation Counsellor, what approaches/techniques might you use to engage and encourage an employer to work with you and an injured worker in returning to work?
Journal Question 3
i) Define and explain the role of Workplace Disability Management as an approach within Occupational Rehabilitation.
ii) Identify and discuss two issues of Workplace Disability Management from the research literature (use references to support your response).
Journal Question 4
Read the following case example.
Margaret, 58, of Newcastle, with long-standing spinal Multiple Sclerosis, has been assessed as medically unfit for employment.
She has recently had an operation to her right shoulder and gave up the business course she had been studying as a result. She felt that the repetitive nature of typing, would prevent her from obtaining even part-time work.
She therefore, needed to reassess her career direction and employment opportunities and is provided with assistance through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). In developing her NDIS plan, Margaret nominated the following goals:
• gain part-time employment
• increase social participation in a creative way
• improve skills
• maintain independent living.
Questions:
i) Provide a step by step approach that you may adopt, if you were a Rehabilitation Counsellor working with Margaret to assist Margaret to plan and reach her goals.
ii) What barriers might you come across in your attempts to assist Margaret with her vocational goals?
iii) How might you address these potential barriers in providing vocational counselling, guidance and support to Margaret?
