What to expect from your impairment assessment

Video transcript

DESCRIPTION:

On a light grey background, a dark-grey and red logo reads ‘Return to Work SA’. The SA lettering is coloured red and has a smaller logo above it. The small logo features a red line above a lime green line that curve into each other to form a stadium shape. Red text below reads ‘What to expect from your permanent impairment assessment’.

In an animation, a dark-haired worker on a suburban building site sits on the ground near a fallen ladder and clutches at their wrist. They wear an orange Hi-Vis vest and yellow trousers. A cement mixer and bricks are on-site nearby.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

If you've had a work injury, an assessment may be undertaken to determine your level of impairment. Your level of impairment will be used to assess your eligibility for lump sum payments and serious injury support.

DESCRIPTION:

Later, the worker stands with a blonde-bearded man who holds a clipboard.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

Your case manager will discuss referring you for an assessment when there is medical evidence that your injury has stabilised.

DESCRIPTION:

Elsewhere, the dark-haired worker stands to the right of a dark-haired woman and a grey-bearded man.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

This short video will help you prepare for your assessment.

DESCRIPTION:

A second group of animated people. A red-haired man, a grey-haired woman and a bald man who has a moustache all wear stethoscopes around their necks.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

A doctor who is specially trained to evaluate permanent impairment will use set guidelines to assess your impairment.

DESCRIPTION:

The dark-haired worker moves his right arm and a red circle pulses on his right shoulder.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

If you have injuries affecting different parts of your body, you may need to see more than one assessor.

DESCRIPTION:

The dark-haired woman from earlier and a brown-haired man talk to the blonde-bearded man who holds the clipboard. The brown-haired man looks between the two as he talks.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

If you have difficulties speaking or understanding English, you can ask your case manager to arrange an interpreter to attend your appointment.

DESCRIPTION:

On a stylised clipboard, grey text reads ‘Preparing for your Appointment’.

In the upper left, dark-grey text on a light-grey background reads ‘Photo ID’. The dark-haired workers ‘Identification Card’ reads ‘Joe Citizen’ on it and further grey text on the lower right reads ‘Appointment letter’. A letter behind the photo ID jiggles.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

Please bring the following items to your appointment, photo ID and your appointment letter, any x-rays or scans of your injury, a list of current medications you have been prescribed, glasses or hearing aids if relevant.

DESCRIPTION:

A stylised x-ray image has a hand and wrist circled in white along with a torso x-ray where the shoulder is circled; a checklist has three boxes ticked and text on the right reads ‘List of medications’; a pair of glasses and a hearing aid.

The dark-haired worker walks hand-in-hand with a red-haired woman who has an orange handbag slung over her shoulder. A sign on the wall reads ‘Assessments’ and a red arrow points to the right.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

You're welcome to bring one support person such as a friend, relative or carer to your appointment, but it's important that they don't answer questions on your behalf.

DESCRIPTION:

Later, the dark-haired worker sits across a desk from the grey haired female doctor from earlier. The red-haired woman sits behind them reading a book.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

So that your assessment can be conducted without distraction, children should not attend.

DESCRIPTION:

The dark-haired worker stands and wears a blue t-shirt and grey trousers. A puff of white smoke and the worker now wears a white singlet and red and white polka dot boxer shorts.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

We recommend that you wear loose, comfortable clothing, which can be easily removed if needed during the examination.

DESCRIPTION:

The hands on a clockface spin rapidly as a red segment begins to fill a 10-minute slot.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

Most appointments take between one to two hours and can vary depending on the injury.

DESCRIPTION:

The dark-haired worker sits with the grey-haired female doctor.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

The doctor will want to know about your complete medical history, your work injury, and how it impacts you, and any medications you may be taking.

DESCRIPTION:

Elsewhere, the dark-haired woman from earlier stands and talks to the bald moustachioed doctor.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

They may also want to know about things like previous work or your hobbies. The doctor may perform a physical examination.

DESCRIPTION:

The grey-bearded man from earlier sits on a bench as the red-haired doctor examines him.

The dark-haired worker is examined by the grey-haired female doctor. She lifts one of his arms up and down.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

This can include asking you to perform basic movements that indicate how you are functioning. The doctor's role is to assess your impairment.

DESCRIPTION:

The grey-haired female doctor talks to the dark-haired worker and the red-haired woman.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

They cannot provide you with the impairment rating or make recommendations about your ongoing treatment.

DESCRIPTION:

Later, the grey-haired female doctor sits at a desk and writes a note. On her computer screen is the image of a person with various areas circled.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

The doctor will prepare a report and provide this to your case manager. You will receive a copy of this report within seven days of your case manager receiving it.

DESCRIPTION:

A stylised animated flip-able calendar spins through the days.

In a diagonal split-screen representing a phone call, the dark-haired worker talks on his phone to the blonde-bearded case manager from earlier.

FEMALE VOICEOVER:

Your case manager will have a conversation with you about your impairment rating and what this means for you. If you have any questions or concerns, your case manager is there to support you.

DESCRIPTION:

The ReturnToWorkSA text and logo from earlier. Further text below reads www.rtwsa.com and 13 18 55. At the bottom, blue text reads ‘Government of South Australia’ along with the ‘Piping Shrike’ magpie logo.

(END OF RECORDING)