Career assessments, counselling and support is a very cloudy area for much debate, particularly for its real world worth and practicality to an injured party, who can be stuck, avoidant and/or emotional.
The end point needs to be highly realistic and attainable, available and accessible. But most importantly – be seen by the injured person as a worthy job option to act on.
My experience comes from knowing the real job market and the potential entry points where an injured party can re-establish a ‘viable’ employment path.
It is extremely easy to prescribe ‘Uber driving’ as a vocational option to an injured party who was once an architect… I’ve seen this happen, a lot. “The jump is easy Bob, just go do it!”
or
“You were a bus-builder for 24 years Greg that isn’t an option for you now, so how about you go drive one of those buses you built – it’s the same field… sort of”
There are obvious problems to poor assessments, besides the money spent to get them. The above shows this clearly, and I am sure you have read dozens of examples yourself. Some you could have easily come up with in an instant – all without the cost. It is disappointing to read ill-advised options.
Let’s face it, the strike rate for an injured party to want to freely engage or go back to work before settlement – is slim. A pricey vocational report that summarises, ‘just go drive an Uber’ doesn’t really help.
So what then?
Give me a call or email and let’s chat. You may be surprised that not all vocational experts are experts. Cheers David.
Great post on the importance of realistic and attainable career assessments for those who have been injured. When it comes to employment related assessment and counselling, it’s crucial that the options offered are practical and truly resonate with the individual. See it here https://surewayhealthwellbeing.com.au/support-for-ndis-participants/workplace-assistance/. Providing support that feels relevant and achievable can make a significant difference in their recovery and future career path.