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Navigating Employment Pathways and Supports Following Brain Injury in Australia: Client Perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2016

Philippa McRae ,
Lisa Hallab  and
Grahame Simpson
Philippa McRae*
Affiliation:
Agency for Clinical Innovation, NSW Health, Sydney, Australia Brain Injury Rehabilitation Research Group, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia
Lisa Hallab
Affiliation:
Agency for Clinical Innovation, NSW Health, Sydney, Australia Brain Injury Rehabilitation Research Group, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia
Grahame Simpson
Affiliation:
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Research Group, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, Australia Liverpool Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, Australia John Walsh Centre of Rehabilitation Research, Kolling Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Philippa McRae, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Directorate, Agency for Clinical Innovation, Level 2, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, 1 Campbell St, Liverpool, NSW 2170. E-mail: philippa.mcrae@health.nsw.gov.au
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Abstract

This study investigated the vocational rehabilitation experiences of 29 clients, up to 14 years post brain injury. Data obtained from participant interviews were thematically analysed by employment pathway (‘return to pre-injury employment’, ‘job seeking’ and ‘not worked since injury’). A total of nine themes were identified. Across all pathways, participants identified the importance of working, impact of injury and their own determination. The content for the remaining themes (understanding, adjustment, access, support, disclosure of injury, intervention) varied by pathway, reflecting the differing perspectives arising from integrating back into a familiar workplace versus seeking new employment. In conclusion, programme approaches to vocational rehabilitation need to be tailored to the individual circumstances, opportunities and support needs of people with brain injury pursuing these different pathways.

Keywords

traumatic brain injuryacquired brain injuryvocational rehabilitationreturn to workqualitativeDisability Employment Servicesthematic analysis
Type
Articles
Information
The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , December 2016 , pp. 76 - 92
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2016 

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