Andrew's recovery and return to work story

Video transcript

DESCRIPTION:

TEXT: Every year there are over 20,000 workplace related injuries in South Australia.

TEXT: ReturnToWorkSA provides essential support to injured workers to help them return to work and the community.

TEXT: This Andrew’s story.

A man sits near some gym equipment and large windows. He has a shaved head, grey stubble-beard and wears glasses and a beige ‘Nike’ jumper.

TEXT: Andrew Mathias – South Australian Security Services

ANDREW MATHIAS:

So I was working at the Royal Adelaide Hospital as a team member in the Violent Patient Response team.

DESCRIPTION:

Outside the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

An empty corridor inside the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

ANDREW MATHIAS:

SAPOL brought in a gentleman who'd been awake for seven days on methamphetamines, large man, put him in the seclusion room and didn't search him.

DESCRIPTION:

Andrew wears security gear and gets into a silver van.

A man presses up against a frosted glass window and yells.

ANDREW MATHIAS:

We were paged to respond to a code black because he was trying to smash his way out of the room and we had to enter the room, restrain him, search him. It didn't go to plan. As you open the door, only one person can get through the door at a time.

DESCRIPTION:

Andrew stands in his security uniform, gun holstered at his side.

A row of numbered holding cells.

Inside a holding cell, an empty bed, a sink and a toilet.

ANDREW MATHIAS:

I was first through and he was a large bloke and we ended up in a wrestling match. There was a barouche in the seclusion room, which is a very heavy bed, and we fell between the barouche and the wall and I twisted my back as I was falling to the floor with this gentleman. I thought I'd be back to work the next day.

DESCRIPTION:

Andrew stands in his security uniform.

ANDREW MATHIAS:

By the time I'd realised how badly I had injured myself, yeah, I didn't know when I'd be able to return to work.

DESCRIPTION:

A woman sits in a padded orange armchair next to a white desk. She has short light-brown hair and wears a black top and trousers.

TEXT: Leah Kenna – Return to Independence Specialist – Gallagher Bassett

LEAH KENNA:

I first met Andrew approximately six years ago.

DESCRIPTION:

Andrew and Leah sit in the gym room and chat.

LEAH KENNA:

We had an initial meeting in his home and we spoke about his recovery, his injury, and I could see that he was very isolated and needed some assistance to reconnect with the community.

DESCRIPTION:

A person uses a silver ballpoint pen to point at some spinal x-rays on a lightboard.

ANDREW MATHIAS:

I had a discectomy laminectomy. That's when you slip a disc and it's putting pressure on your spinal cord. I couldn't walk. I was in a lot of pain.

DESCRIPTION:

A pair of crutches propped against the wall beside an empty hospital bed.

ANDREW MATHIAS:

I was bedridden for a while, stuck at home, very hard to do anything, to be honest. Yeah, the future wasn't looking bright.

DESCRIPTION:

Leah sits with Andrew at a table and they look at some documents.

LEAH KENNA:

I think my role with Andrew was more encouraging him to achieve his goals. He knew exactly what he wanted to do, but he didn't know how to achieve it. So I helped him put those stepping stones in place and walked alongside of him until he reached his goals.

DESCRIPTION:

TEXT: Recovery

ANDREW MATHIAS:

The turning point was when I sat down with Leah. We were having a coffee and she said, “Right, Andrew, how do you feel about returning to some kind of work?” And I said, “I think that's a fantastic idea.”

DESCRIPTION:

Andrew stands outside and wears his security uniform. He talks to Leah.

LEAH KENNA:

Andrew's love for security work was very obvious when I met him. He was very motivated and loved every aspect of his job. He was very passionate when he spoke about it.

DESCRIPTION:

Andrew stands with Leah and another man who also wears a security uniform.

LEAH KENNA:

So the first step for us was to gain that approval from his treatment providers for them to be able to provide the capacity that he could return to that work.

DESCRIPTION:

Andrew talks to Leah at the back of a parked car.

Elsewhere and later, Leah types on a laptop computer at a desk.

Inside a small room, Andrew sits in a small armchair opposite Leah.

LEAH KENNA:

We put in some support services for him, so that included assistance with resumes and interview skills. It also included attending different courses to get his certificates. And then, obviously, my support as well. Being mobile, I was able to meet with him out in the community and his home to help him achieve his goals.

DESCRIPTION:

Andrew lifts weights and works out inside a gym.

ANDREW MATHIAS:

It took a while, with a lot of support and a lot of services. I utilised every service and bit of support that I could from ReturnToWorkSA and we got there.

DESCRIPTION:

A man stands and wears a South Australian Security Services uniform. He has short grey hair and a goatee beard.

TEXT: Mike Barbato – South Australian Security Services

MIKE BARBATO:

I employed Andrew because of his experience, mostly. He's been in the industry a long time. I think over probably around 20 years.

DESCRIPTION:

At a firing range, Andrew draws his sidearm and aims at a target. He wears eye and ear protectors. A second security officer walks over to talk to him.

Later, Andrew stands outside the entrance to the shooting range. He wears his security uniform.

MIKE BARBATO:

He's previously done work as an armed guard. He had a good presence, which is a good requirement for this type of work. His demeanour, his honesty, which is important for us.

LEAH KENNA:

I think when Andrew realised that he could actually return to work, that was huge for him. His motivation tripled, and he was on the phone with me constantly with different ideas of what he could do and achieve.

MIKE BARBATO:

Andrew has worked out very well. He's actually probably one of my best staff at the moment, and we do have plans for the future with upcoming contracts, which I'm going to involve Andrew with in a much higher capacity than what he is at the moment.

DESCRIPTION:

Andrew and Mike walk through a large open shed.

Later, they talk to Leah.

MIKE BARBATO:

He started off just as a relief guard and we've started him off slowly just to make sure that his injury didn't reoccur, and it seems to be working pretty well. So we've got big plans for Andrew.

DESCRIPTION:

At the shooting range, Andrew draws his sidearm and fires at the target.

Elsewhere, Andrew, Mike and Leah share a laugh.

ANDREW MATHIAS:

Getting back to work gives you a connection to the community and gives you self-respect, things that money can't buy. I'm not isolated. I've got a reason to get up every morning. I just generally love life at the moment.

DESCRIPTION:

Andrew works out at the gym.

ANDREW MATHIAS:

Just don't give up. Don't sit at home. Don't lay in bed and think, the future's not going to get any better, because it will. It will, you just need to be determined and focused.

DESCRIPTION:

Andrew stands proudly in his security uniform.

ANDREW MATHIAS:

I think my doctor called me a determined, practical man. I'm not sure what that means, but Leah assures me it's a compliment. So be determined. Yeah, be practical. Get it done.

DESCRIPTION:

On a white background, a grey and red logo reads ‘Return to Work SA’. The SA lettering is coloured red and has a logo above it that features a red line above a lime green line that curve into each other to form a stadium shape. Further grey text below reads ‘Return to work.’

(END OF RECORDING)