CASE STUDIES

Helping injured people get on with their lives

In regional and rural Australia, CGU is highly regarded for lending a helping hand, often going beyond what's expected. Paying claims quickly is just one part of the story - we're also there to help injured people recover quickly, return to work and get on with their lives.

Through our workers' compensation insurance, we provide cover for injured workers across a range of industries, including those working on the land.

"I was back-burning the paddocks before planting the crops and I spilled some petrol on me. Before I knew it, I had caught fire and I had burnt my hand, arms and chest," recounts Trevor Loechel, a farmhand based in Yorketown, rural South Australia.

Julie, an Adelaide based Injury Management Advisor involved with Trevor's claim, visited him during his initial stay at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. She arranged to have an occupational therapist, who Trevor knew previously, to help his recovery.

"After the accident, Julie met me in Adelaide to buy the protective gear I needed to make sure I didn't damage my skin grafts," explains Trevor.

Four months after his accident, Trevor returned to work on the farm and remains in contact with Julie.

"She still keeps in touch with me every week to see how things are going. She's been great in helping me get back to work. I really appreciate everything she's done for me," says Trevor.

We believe the keys to managing the claim of an injured worker are good communication, empathy and the ability to step into the injured person's shoes to understand their injury and the tasks they usually perform at work.

In South Australia, we manage the workers' compensation claims process on behalf of WorkCover Corporation, the government regulator. Our obligation to WorkCover is to improve return-to-work measures and reduce claim costs.

The role we play has significant and far-reaching implications for individuals, employers and the community in general. Our decisions can affect a person's ability to provide for themselves or their family, and we are mindful of this in every decision we make.