First responders are at increased risk of workplace injury compared to all other occupations, due to higher exposure to physical and psychological hazards. Compared to physical conditions, work related mental health injuries are associated with prolonged recovery and return to work durations (almost 5 times that of a physical condition) and a lower chance of successfully resuming work.

Regulators hope that new health and safety laws relating to psychosocial hazard management will help mitigate the risk of injury. But why are we seeing such inequality between physical and mental health injury outcomes? And further, what can be done to improve outcomes for those who do sustain a psychological injury at work?

This presentation will provide a summary of the most recent scientific literature along with real world experiences of vocational rehabilitation specialists gained over 20 years of supporting injured workers to return to sustainable work. Key individual, workplace and healthcare system factors impacting the return to work (RTW) process will be explored, providing insights into why particular organisational factors such as supervisor response to injury and consultative return to work planning can positively impact recovery and rehabilitation from both physical and mental health injuries.

Evidence-based practical workplace strategies will be discussed to help turn the dial on modifiable factors and improve RTW outcomes for those frontline workers who do sustain a workplace psychological injury.

**Note to Committee from Georgina - This topic would also work really well in a panel or a workshop, offering practical solutions and having participants work through activities relevant to their own workplace. We would be open to both if you think that would add value to the program.