Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service

by Liam Wallington

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

I recently had the opportunity to attend one of the meetings at The Gender Centre (at the kind invitation of Sophie), and after discussion with a few members of the team at the Centre, offered to write something for Polare about the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service, and how we might work together with the Centre in developing services for the Transgender Community.

The Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service (C.R.S.) is an organisation set up by the Commonwealth Government to assist people with injuries or disabilities in gaining, or keeping paid employment. In doing so, C.R.S. aims to reduce the social and economic cost of injury and disability to the wider community.

As a government organisation, C.R.S. aims to be responsive to the diverse social, cultural, physical and psychological needs of all its clients, ensuring equitable access for all sections of the community.

For this reason, the Regional Units are located at a site near you! You are eligible for services through C.R.S. if you:

1. are of working age (less than 65);
2. have an injury or disability that significantly affects your ability to work; or
3. are likely to benefit from C.R.S. intervention.

It is important to note that "disability" refers to both physical and psychological impairment. C.R.S. will service clients with disabilities ranging from stress/anxiety disorders, to lower back pain, injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents, and psychiatric disabilities (e.g. depression and bi-polar disorders). A couple of Regional Units will also accept clients with Drug and Alcohol issues.

Referrals to C.R.S. are accepted from a number of sources. You can self-refer, or be referred by a treating specialist (eg. doctor, psychologist, physiotherapist), by the Department of Social Security (usually through the Disability Support Officer), by community organisations, or family members.

The rehabilitation programs themselves are run on the Case Management model. You will be assigned a Case Manager who will work with you in developing a program that meets your individual rehabilitation needs. This requires that you are:

1. committed to your rehabilitation program; and
2. motivated to achieve your rehabilitation goal;

You can also contact the Community Worker at The Gender Centre who can give you information about being referred to C.R.S.. (02) 9569 2366

The program will usually consist of:

1. assessment to determine an appropriate vocational goal, and any physical/psychological limitation to your functional abilities; and
2. services to assist you in achieving your goal (eg. physical upgrading, a Work Training with a prospective employer, funding of work related courses, assistance with job-seeking and Resume development).

C.R.S. employs Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Rehabilitation Counsellors, Social Workers, Speech Therapists and sessional staff (e.g. Medical Specialists and Psychologists) to assist you in achieving your rehabilitation goal.

I hope this information can be of some use to you. I can only encourage you to make use of the resources available to you, if you are someone who is eligible for vocational rehabilitation services with C.R.S.

Polare is published in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Community Services under the S.A.A.P. Program and supported by the N.S.W. Health Department through the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. Polare provides a forum for discussion and debate on gender issues. Advertisers are advised that all advertising is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, though no guarantee is made by the Editor that they will be published, nor any discussion entered into. The editor reserves the right to edit such contributions without notification. Any submission which appears in Polare may be published on our internet site. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, The Gender Centre Inc.I, the Department of Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health.