Janelle Paton

Category nine – Best individual contribution to rehabilitation and return to work

Jan is a dedicated, passionate and empathetic injury management professional. Jan's role is diverse in Hastings Deering Australia Limited (HDAL) which has a workforce of 3200 employees spread across locations and industry areas (including mining) in Queensland and the Northern Territory. She manages injury claims within the Haynes Group of businesses which has 900 employees, including labour hire and mechanical workshop employees. Over the last five years, she has worked to achieve and maintain stay at work final and final return to work rates well above the industry rates in both companies.

She has streamlined case file management and implemented a records management process which has significantly improved access to employee information relating to pre-employment, health surveillance and work and non-work-related claims. She has introduced innovative programs such as:

• collaboration with the safety team to address injury hotspots within the workplaces
• implementing change where needed in the existing organisational processes based on issues raised by claims (e.g. payroll)
• seeking host RTW employment options
• mentoring and succession pathways for staff in the RTW stream.

Jan has personally been instrumental in achieving the best possible outcomes for many injured employees especially those who have sustained significant injuries resulting in complex claims.

Janelle Paton - Hastings Deering Australia Limited