IPAR Star Awards

IPAR Star Awards: Celebrating the shining stars of IPAR

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Great People, Big Hearts and Bold Ideas were all celebrated at this year’s 2024 Star Awards, as IPAR teams gathered together for the annual Star Awards events in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. It was a moment to reflect on the past 12 months, and recognise the outstanding achievements of team members who have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact on their teammates, clients, customers and community.

Team members were invited to nominate someone who displayed outstanding achievements in the following categories:

New Starter Award

Celebrating the success of a member of the team who has been in the business for 12months or less.

Support Staff of the Year Award

Celebrating an outstanding member of IPAR’s support team (including Business Support, Rehabilitation Assistants, Account Managers, or Technical Managers).

Consultant Award

Celebrating the achievements of an outstanding consultant.

Leader Award

Celebrating someone who has shown exceptional leadership.

Community Champion Award

Celebrating an IPARian with a big heart who has made a positive impact and contribution to the wider local community that they live or work in.

Outcome Excellence Award

Celebrating someone who has delivered outstanding outcomes for their clients or customers.

Seeking Better Award 

Celebrating someone whose innovative thinking and bold ideas have made a positive difference for our team, clients or customers.

 

Each recipient was peer-nominated, and with so many incredible entries it was a difficult decision for the judges to select the finalists and ultimately the winners.

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners!

 

2024 IPAR Leadership Conference

2024 IPAR Leadership Conference

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2024 IPAR Leadership Conference

At IPAR, we value Great People, with Big Hearts and Bold Ideas. One of our boldest ideas has been increasing our leadership team’s capacity, so that our consultants are further supported and enabled to deliver better outcomes for our clients and customers. We recently gathered this leadership team – including Team Leaders, Branch Managers and Technical Managers – to join us at the 2024 IPAR Leadership Conference.

The purpose of the conference is to ensure that IPAR’s values are embedded in everything we do. We take time to reflect, learn and grow as a leadership team, so that we can be resilient leaders to our people in this ever-changing world. A particular highlight was hearing from Australian Free Diver, Adam Sellars from The Pressure Project on how the secrets of free diving can help us to be more present, focused, and compassionate as we go about our important work.

Thank you to all of the leaders who joined us, as well as the leaders who ‘held the fort’ back at the office. And a big thank you to all the partners, spouses and family members of our leaders, who looked after babies, children and fur babies at home so that we could spend such valuable time together.

Rising to the Challenge for ZERO600

Rising to the Challenge for ZERO600

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Rising to the Challenge for ZERO600

Between 1- 6 June, IPARians across the country set their alarm clocks early for the ZERO600 Challenge, helping to raise funds for Australian Veterans and the families by supporting the work of Invictus Australia.

Getting out the door at 6am for 6 consecutive days, the team embraced the power of a morning ritual to beat the doona, switch the snooze off and supercharge their day. IPAR team members took part in a wide range of outdoor activities during the challenge, including Dragon Boating, beach walks and early morning yoga to name a few.

We were proud to reach our fundraising goal, and raise important awareness for the amazing work that Invictus Australia does in strengthening Veteran wellbeing through the power of sport.

IPAR is a proud premier partner of Invictus Australia. To learn more about Invictus Australia and for ways you can support please visit https://invictusaustralia.org

Re-thinking Recovery global recognition and data analysis

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We are thrilled to announce that IPAR’s Re-thinking Recovery service has been featured in a recently released international discussion paper titled “Making Pain Education Better: historical underpinnings & recent innovations” authored by globally respected experts Professor Lorimer Moseley (University of South Australia) and Professor Cormac Ryan (Teesside University, UK).

Available for download from the PETAL Collaboration website, this thought-provoking paper delves into the complexities of pain perception, its psychosocial impact, and proposes a holistic framework for comprehensive pain education.

The paper also discusses some very promising results from our Re-thinking Recovery service and we have summarised some key highlights below:

“Rethinking Recovery is not a pain management programme and does not aim to be one. The focus is on attaining specific learning objectives through both immersive embodied experiences and active learning strategies. Those learning objectives were identified by recovered consumers to be most helpful for their own recovery”

“…in this case the IPAR Re-thinking Recovery occupational rehabilitation VR-enhances pain education program – seems to offer important clinical benefits at a fraction of the cost of specialist pain services and with shorter delay between referral and episode of care”

“One might suggest that such new wave pain education should at least be seen as an important step in the pathway of returning people with disabling chronic pain to work”

“…programs such as IPARs Rethinking Recovery take a compelling body of evidence and build a new wave pain education intervention which, no doubt will be reviewed, refined, and updated, upon review of data”

“Early examples of VR-enhanced new wave education (such as IPAR’s Rethinking Recovery)… give good reason to be optimistic: pain severity, interference and pain-related self-efficacy outcomes – the most important mediators of wellbeing improvements – seem comparable to that being achieved by specialist pain services … at a fraction of the time and economic investment…”

If you would like to know more about how Re-thinking Recovery is improving recovery outcomes for those impacted by persistent pain please email re-thinkingrecovery@ipar.com.au or contact National Manager of Pain and Recovery Services Aaron Bowes.

Beyond Cancer Summary Paper

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IPAR’s Beyond Cancer program was developed to address a gap in breast cancer survivorship care. Co-developed by IPAR and Curtin and Monash Universities, the rehabilitation program includes health coaching for cancer survivors, employer education and support, collaboration with treatment providers and return-to-work planning and monitoring.

A recent feasibility study published in Current Oncology demonstrated preliminary evidence for Beyond Cancer’s effectiveness and high levels of acceptability for supporting breast cancer survivors to return to work and wellness. The study was undertaken by a research team comprised of academics, industry experts, occupational rehabilitation, and voice of the consumer, and was funded by the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

We’ve made a summary paper of the study available, so that it’s easier for people to understand the program aims, method, and importantly, the results that have been produced. The study’s findings include improvements in work capacity and return to work status, and a statistically significant improvement in 8 out of the 11 biopsychosocial (biological, psychological, and social) factors studied.

Some of the key areas of improvement included:

  • Physical fatigue improved by 23.5%
  • Pain improved by 24.2%
  • Expectations to work in the near future improved by 18.5%
  • Health beliefs improved by 17.8%

At IPAR, we’re proud to offer Beyond Cancer to breast cancer survivors as part of our commitment to helping people return to work and wellness. Download the summary paper or contact Georgina Lamb via glamb@ipar.com.au for more information on this ground-breaking program.

20 year graphic

Celebrating 20 years of IPAR: 2003-2023

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June 2023: We are proud to commence a celebration of 20 years of IPAR, recognising the difference our people and services have made in the lives of many over the past two decades. 20 years is a significant celebration for our business and represents the passion, commitment and hard work of hundreds of IPAR people, especially the team we have today.

In 2003, IPAR started in a small office with a big idea to improve outcomes within the occupational rehabilitation industry. IPAR quickly became one of the fastest growing companies in Australia, making it to the BRW Fastest Growing Companies list for three consecutive years.

Even with rapid growth, we never lost sight of our core purpose: to improve outcomes. We are proud to provide exceptional care to our clients, customers and people. This has always been at the heart of our culture and remains so today.

Over the next 12 months, we will be highlighting the work of our people and sharing the amazing stories that have come from our business: stories of inspiring IPAR careers, remarkable client outcomes, trusted customer partnerships and the amazing contributions IPAR has made to the industry. We will also be working ever closer with our charity partners, Ronald McDonald House Charities and Invictus Australia to continue to make a difference in our community.

To our customers, clients and people: thank you for being part of the IPAR journey and thank you for your support in making our business what it is today.

Study Finds IPAR Beyond Cancer Program Positively Supports Breast Cancer Survivors

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A visual abstract of the IPAR Beyond Cancer program

March 2023

The findings of a feasibility study into IPAR’s Beyond Cancer Rehabilitation Program, which supports breast cancer survivors return to health, wellness and work, have been published in Current Oncology.

This is the culmination of years of work from our research and industry partners – Cancer Council NSW, Monash University, Curtin University, ACU, Swiss Re and AIA – along with our rehabilitation consultants and cancer survivor clients.

An evidence-based, multimodal rehabilitation program, Beyond Cancer was designed to support the growing number of women who are returning to work following breast cancer treatment. It aims to reduce the impact of symptoms, enhance wellness and help survivors to successfully resume working.

Specifically tailored to each person’s unique needs, the program includes:

  • An assessment to identify current life challenges
  • Education in symptom management
  • Health management training such as managing stress, increasing resilience and managing pain
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Return to work planning
  • Engagement with the workplace as required

The feasibility study, funded by a grant from the National Breast Cancer Foundation, focused on implementation, acceptability and preliminary indications of efficacy. Primary outcome measures included work status, work capacity and perceived support at work, with perspectives sought from the breast cancer survivor, employer and occupational rehabilitation provider.

Results showed the intervention was acceptable, demonstrated strong participant engagement and high satisfaction. It also showed preliminary evidence of improvements in work capacity and psychosocial factors, with the most significant improvements in work expectations, physical fatigue and pain management.

Thank you to everyone involved in this important work. We are very excited by the potential of this program to support breast cancer survivors, and people of working age with cancer more broadly.

As reported by one client who participated in the program:

“Honestly it has been a godsend. I would highly recommend this program to anyone going through cancer. If it wasn’t included in the insurance scheme, I wouldn’t have been looking at returning to work anywhere near as soon as what I have been now, even though I wanted to.”

Working Together to Support People Living With Pain

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It was a pleasure to be in attendance with Professor Lorimer Moseley and Reality Health at the Self Insurers of South Australia Forum, held in Adelaide on February 10. Professor Moseley gave valuable insight into the current research surrounding pain treatment, and the areas where improvements can be made.

We also heard from Reality Health’s Ben Sheat, who took us through the Reality Health Program. Ben was supported by IPAR’s South Australian pain coaches, Alice Gerlach and Kirsti Haupt, who gave demonstrations and discussions on IPAR’s national Re-thinking Recovery service which utilises the Reality Health platform.

Thank you to Lawson Risk, the event sponsor. As always, it was a pleasure to come together with Professor Moseley and Reality Health to share our mutual passion for supporting individuals impacted by persistent pain.

Peta Siggers wins Excellence in Injury and Disability Management at PIEF Awards

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Peta Siggers with award at PIEF

Congratulations to IPAR’s Veteran Experience Manager, Peta Siggers, who received the Excellence in Injury and Disability Management (Lived Experience) Award at the Personal Injury Education Foundation (PIEF) Awards held in Brisbane.

Peta followed her father and grandfather into the Army and served as a Medic for 15 years, deploying overseas and supporting our Defence personnel at home. During her time, she was drawn to roles that involved wellbeing, rehabilitation support and complex case management. Then, after experiencing her own injuries while in service, Peta transitioned from Defence to become a Rehabilitation Counsellor, so that she can continue to support the veteran community.

Today, in her national role at IPAR, Peta provides education and support to the many IPAR consultants who work with veteran clients and their families, using her lived experience in the military and rehabilitation counselling qualifications to ensure IPAR’s services remain veteran-centric and holistic. She also builds relationships with veteran and family supports in the wider community to facilitate engagement for veteran clients and their families.

IPAR and Invictus Australia partnership goes beyond sport

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Joel Vanderzwan (Veteran and Invictus Games competitor), Peta Siggers (IPAR Veteran Experience Manager), Michael Hartung (CEO, Invictus Australia) and Jo Broomhall (IPAR Executive General Manager) at the official launch of the partnership

Current and former servicemen and women face untold challenges, from combat exposure to difficulties transitioning from military to civilian life. IPAR is proud to offer tailored services to support the health and wellbeing of Australia’s 580,000+ veterans and their families. However, with 6,000 veterans transitioning out of the Australian Defence Force every year, it is vital that we continue to develop our offering.

We are proud to announce our new partnership with Invictus Australia, which will provide more support to our veterans and their families.

Invictus Australia is operated by the organisers of the Invictus Games, the multi-sport spectacle that inspires recovery, rehabilitation and understanding of the wounded. Invictus Australia carries the legacy of the Games in local communities, making sure all veterans and their families can benefit from involvement with sporting communities.

We will be working closely with Invictus Australia to increase awareness, understanding and appreciation of the Australian veterans and families that they exist to serve. The partnership will see more sport and recreational opportunities, events and resources available for the Defence community.

Invictus Australia will bring their sporting expertise and connections to the partnership, to help facilitate local initiatives, through its extensive network of sporting partners. IPAR will provide support for local activations around the country, helping to facilitate and communicate sport and recreational opportunities to their audience of veterans.

Jo Broomhall, Executive General Manager of IPAR said:

“Our partnership with Invictus Australia is all about supporting veterans and their families in practical ways that truly make a difference, whether it’s through improved access to local sporting activity and the many physical and mental health benefits that flow from it, or by creating meaningful connections to the local Invictus community. We will leverage this partnership to help veterans find or reignite their passion for sport and integrate this into their unique rehabilitation and reintegration journey for themselves and their family.”

Michael Hartung, Chief Executive Officer of Invictus Australia said:

“We are delighted to partner with IPAR to share our expertise in the sporting arena, and together show real collaboration in action to deliver better outcomes for veterans and their families. We know the powerful role sport can play in the recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration of our veterans and their families, and look forward to working with the extensive IPAR network across Australia to deliver upon our shared passion and purpose to support all those who have, and continue to serve our country.”

View the media release here.