It Takes Heart
It Takes Heart is an unmissable podcast where healthcare workers share their honest and unique experiences from Australia’s frontline.
Discover real-life stories of passion and purpose, insight and inspiration from people on the inside and tales that are equal parts heart-warming, heart-wrenching and hilarious. It Takes Heart is co-hosted by cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment CEO Samantha Miklos and Head of Talent and Employer Branding Kate Coomber.
It Takes Heart
Finding Purpose after Injury with Award-Winning Rehab Counsellor Chantelle Wood
Join us for an eye-opening episode on occupational rehabilitation with Chantelle Wood, a leading rehabilitation counsellor and founder of Restorative. As the Australian Rehabilitation Counsellor of the Year at the Allied Health Awards, Chantelle shares her journey in allied health, offering insights into the complex process of recovery and reintegration into the workforce after life-changing injuries. From stories of individuals overcoming trauma to the essential role of rehabilitation counsellors, this episode highlights how holistic support empowers people to reclaim their lives and careers.
We explore the significance of employer involvement in the return-to-work process and why mental health awareness is crucial in rehabilitation settings. Chantelle discusses the emotional challenges clients face, including identity loss, and how rehabilitation professionals provide the guidance needed to navigate these hurdles. Her client-centred approach and commitment to connecting with families and employers underscore the importance of a collaborative recovery journey. Through inspiring stories of transformation, she illustrates the life-changing impact of rehabilitation services and the power of tailored support in helping individuals successfully return to work.
Tune in to gain a fresh perspective on the vital role of rehabilitation counsellors and the incredible journeys of recovery they help facilitate.
It Takes Heart is hosted by cmr CEO Sam Miklos, alongside Head of Talent and Employer Branding, Kate Coomber.
We Care; Music by Waveney Yasso
More about Chantelle's Organisation of Choice, Solaris Cancer Care.
Solaris Cancer Care is a community-based healthcare organisation. Their Cancer Support Centres are the first of their kind in Australia and offer support, information, education, and complementary therapies to cancer patients and their primary carers.
Follow Chantelle on Instagram or LinkedIn.
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Follow @ittakesheartpodcast on Instagram, @cmr | Cornerstone Medical Recruitment on Linked In, @cornerstonemedrec on TikTok and @CornerstoneMedicalRecruitment on Facebook.
Welcome to it Takes Heart. I'm Kate and I'm Sam, and we can't wait to share more incredible stories of healthcare professionals making an impact across Australia.
Chantelle Wood:A big part of my sessions, and what I'd like to think of myself as a counsellor is that I'm there for all aspects. I'm there to joke about maps with you, but then I'm also there to talk about the heavy stuff of what are we going to do now? Where's life going to take you now, after the injury? The University of New York has three answers yes, not right now. Or I have something better in store, and I truly live by that and I feel like I'm doing exactly what I'm meant to be doing.
Kate Coomber:We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land of which we meet who, for centuries, have shared ancient methods of healing and cared for their communities. We pay our respects to elders, past and present.
Sam Miklos:So today we are diving into the world of occupational rehabilitation with Chantelle Wood. She's the founder and director of Restorative, a boutique rehabilitation consulting practice that is transforming the way we approach work-related injuries and return to work support. Chantelle has nearly a decade of experience delivering outstanding rehab outcomes and in 2024 was named the Australian Rehabilitation Councillor of the Year at the Allied Health Awards for an incredible achievement. We can't wait to learn more about her journey, her philosophy and the innovative approaches she uses to support recovery and return to work. Welcome to it Takes Heart.
Chantelle Wood:Thank you so much. I'm so grateful to be here.
Sam Miklos:It's really good to have you as an OT for five minutes. I did a placement in OCH Rehab. I still remember it doing functional capacity evaluations functional capacity assessment evaluation, yes, but the world of OCH Rehab is a bit of an enigma it is. It's not very well understood. I think when you caught up with Kate, you even mentioned that at the Allied Health Awards. I don't even think anyone knew what the award like, what it is that I was getting an award for.
Chantelle Wood:Yes.
Sam Miklos:The extra category. So let's start with what?
Chantelle Wood:is OCHREHAB, but then where does the role of rehab counsellor that you feel fit in there as well? Yes, well, occupational rehab is such a specialised field, so it's really a space that integrates people back into work or life and their community after going through an injury, illness or essentially having a disability. So it's really there for the hard times. I listened to a podcast recently, actually, that said that just because some stories are harder to listen to doesn't mean that they shouldn't be heard, and I feel like that really says what occupational rehabilitation is.
Chantelle Wood:You know health professionals that work in this specialised area. We meet our clients after the fact. We meet them after something's happened. We meet them after the big bad event. So it's so important to hear their stories and then work out a plan with them In terms of where rehabilitation counsellors fit in. So we are a specialised group of counsellors and we really are there for integrating them if they can't go back to what they were doing. So if, for instance, a nurse can't return back to nursing and needs to be able to work out a different vocational career direction, rehabilitation counsellors are really there to walk alongside you and help you not only adjust to the injury but also work out where you're gonna go from there.
Sam Miklos:And how does someone find your service Like when you say we get you after the effect?
Chantelle Wood:Good question. So occupational rehabilitation and rehab counsellors when you have an injury at work, let's say, or even an injury in life, and you have life insurance, you are entitled to access rehabilitation to help you as part of your journey. So normally it's through GPs getting referrals or other health professionals, or through insurance. There's a lot of different aspects in a lot of ways, but it's a space where it's really something that you don't get unless you ask for it I was about to say because I imagine if you went to the GP, probably the first thing is that physical.
Kate Coomber:You need a physio, you know whatever that first strain might be. Yeah, is there enough education, even within the healthcare industry?
Chantelle Wood:I definitely not. You know some beautiful GPs that I know across Australia. They understand the value of rehabilitation counsellors and the difference we can make and they'll create, happen that space. But a lot of them are really focused on, you know, the immediate. You know early intervention with physio or some of those other types of treatments. But if it becomes apparent that someone isn't going to plan or the treatment modalities aren't necessarily working, having that adjustment and being able to pivot and look at, okay, well, what else can we focus on for this person. That's where Ock Rehab really does come in and it's something that people are entitled to access. But a lot of the time employers, you know, don't realise that either. They won't understand. They can have someone external who's helping their employee return. So it's really being able to have that education, I think, is a big point.
Sam Miklos:And how long would someone access your service Like?
Kate Coomber:could it be a short period, up to a couple of years? Is it really the counselling component? And yeah, like, what's the actual process? How do you unpack and start to finish line?
Chantelle Wood:Yes, it's very much one that, like I mentioned before, that when I meet my clients it's after that something has happened.
Chantelle Wood:So it's really kind of meeting them where they're at at that point and if that's the point where they still want to return to their previous vocation or their career, that is the shared goal that you co-create and you work out a plan with them as part of their multidisciplinary treating team which is what Ock Rehab is part of a big team to be able to make that happen for that person. However, there's also a power in being able to acknowledge if that's not going to happen for that person and being able to start gently through different interventions, helping them have that realisation on their own and lead them towards the idea of a shift and a transition and working out what that could look like. With some of my clients that, you know, is a big change for them if they're in their you know, 40s and 50s and they've only ever been one particular job and they can't do that again, and the training team have said that. You know you're really holding space for how painful that is, that loss of identity.
Kate Coomber:Absolutely, and then do you have to do a lot of research around what could be next for them yes. What's the vocation now?
Chantelle Wood:Yes. So you would do an assessment with them and a lot of vocational counselling to really explore what their skills are. So a lot of people have transferable skills that they haven't even thought of, particularly like busy mums working with them. They're able to multitask in such a know they might not be able to go back and work in that particular job again, but it doesn't mean that they can't do anything. So it's really empowering that you know work gives people so much purpose and seeing their potential from the beginning is really important, because a lot of people can't see that, particularly if they're experiencing chronic pain.
Kate Coomber:And then do you connect with the employers as well. Absolutely yes, so I imagine people want to do the right thing, but they don't really know what to do.
Chantelle Wood:Absolutely so. To be able to have, you know, a black book of incredibly supportive employers across Australia has been absolutely incredible, because a lot of employers don't understand and some employers also don't understand that they can even be a work trial host, so they can host someone who is in their rehab journey and they can actually be part of that story and help them build that confidence. You know working supernumerary as well. While they're within a workers' compensation claim or a different type of insurance process, they can be a free resource for them to be able to add to their team and really make a big difference.
Sam Miklos:I was going to. You talked earlier about um. An Ock Rehab team is a multidisciplinary team. You're a psychologist. What other professionals can sit within that team? Because I think there's this um probably a bit of confusion, I think, out there about who can be in Ock Rehab you know, like do you have to have done it?
Chantelle Wood:yeah, do you?
Sam Miklos:have to have become. You did psychology. I know in OT we could work. Yes, who's eligible? Well, good question. Or, who forms the team?
Chantelle Wood:Yes, well, good question. So as a rehab counsellor, it's really important to know that you're one cog in that big team. So when a client comes to you, they normally have a physio already involved or an exercise physiologist or an OT or a speechy or a whole group and you're part of that team and there's such a respect there. You know, with some beautiful colleagues that I have in the industry, that the work that they do I couldn't I couldn't do what I do without them, and they're brilliant work with our shared clients. In terms of who can work in Ock Rehab, it can be any health professional. So if you have a background, you're able to consult on something. You have that knowledge, you have that skill set. You're able to work within that space. And for a lot of people that I've worked with, particularly who are really experienced in the industry, if they don't want to do something so hands-on anymore, to be able to be in a consulting capacity is really empowering for them.
Kate Coomber:That's really interesting. So that in itself is opening up perhaps a future career for someone who may have sustained an injury. Absolutely, this could actually be a really interesting pathway for them.
Chantelle Wood:And even the flexibility like a lot of the work that Restorative does is in remote communities and rurally and for a lot of people that are there, you know, for childminding and fitting around school drop off, it's a really flexible industry as well. It's a really flexible industry as well so you can really make it essentially tailored to you and the client and what they need and kind of book that around your calendar, which is an incredible luxury I really am very grateful for every day.
Sam Miklos:Did you go straight into that's?
Chantelle Wood:what I was going to say. I was like how did you get here? Because you were psychology yes, yes.
Sam Miklos:And then why as well?
Chantelle Wood:Yes, well, I was actually lucky enough and I certainly was thinking about that on the way here of when I first started going into rehab and really wanting to work in that space.
Chantelle Wood:My mentor, who is an incredible dear friend of mine he's a clinical psychologist in Perth, his name is Dr Bruce Willett he was really empowering for me and encouraging to say what difference I could make in that particular area of mental health. So that made a really big difference for me. I think you know if I truly think about why becoming a rehab counsellor I've got to go back to when I was in primary school. So my parents bless them enrolled me in like a public speaking group and in this group my speech that I chose was all about what I'm going to be when I grow up. So we explored about 10, 15 different types of careers and I was saying I could be this but this would be a negative. I could be this, but that would be a challenge. And you know there was doctors in there and firefighters and vets and nurses and you know I wanted to be a weather girl on TV Weather girl on TV.
Kate Coomber:You're really in for it.
Chantelle Wood:That TV? Were you pumped to be in this public speaking or were you? Oh my gosh, I was. I think my parents you know they made a massive deal of. You know how well I would do and I think having that self-belief, I think, made a big difference. So I think I was probably going in there with naive confidence. So I did not win, unfortunately. The boy that won spoke about the life cycle of a tree. So that's okay, but when I was really exploring that.
Sam Miklos:So he must have had some real pizzazz to talk about the life cycle of a tree.
Chantelle Wood:He did, he did. But when I was thinking about it, you know, a big part of being a rehab counsellor is working with people. When you know you grow up and everyone asks you you know, what do you want to be when you grow up, what are you going to do? But I meet people when they often can't return to what they wanted to be when they grow up and to hold them in that space. That then okay, well, what's something else we can do? And so oftentimes I'm having the same conversations that I had in that speech that day about exploring the pros and cons of different things to people and really what they want to be when they grow up, in that 2.0 for that next chapter for them. So I feel like that's been a big part of my journey of really understanding that and, yeah, being there for the next phase.
Sam Miklos:You know, if you go back to a couple of years back, a lot of people held that one career forever, but I think these new generations that are coming through.
Chantelle Wood:There's so many new careers and the 2.0 and 3.0 would definitely help those conversations now compared to a few years back too absolutely and I think, like over the 10 years I've found people are more open to that and I think you know inoc rehab. It's really important when you're involved in in someone's case to have that respect of. If it's clear medically early on that they can't return, we need to start preparing that person for that and that's where that vocational counselling and that adjustment to injury counselling really comes in to really help them have that realisation and their families as well. You know, if dad's always been someone who's worked on a roof and now he's not going to be doing that and dad's at home, you know the whole dynamic in the family changes as well. So it's an adjustment for everyone.
Sam Miklos:Did you have to study like once you'd completed psych, like to move from psych to ochre rehab or from OT to ochre rehab? Is there other study that needs to be done?
Chantelle Wood:Yes, so it's quite specialised. So my background is in psychological counselling and then I went on to specialise in rehabilitation. So there's different courses you can do and really focus on that area. But I think it really depends if it's, I think, if it's an OT that is going to be going into OCH Rehab, I think it really depends. Like there's a lot of on-the-job training you can do as well, so it's really quite accessible. So it's something that I think a lot of people don't realise is an option to them, but they certainly could do, you know, with the skills they already have.
Kate Coomber:And even from a rehab counsellor perspective, do they need to come from a health background or could it be I'm just thinking about, you know, companies that might have return to work teams?
Chantelle Wood:sitting within.
Sam Miklos:HR, that sort of space. Good question, is that a good question?
Chantelle Wood:So in my experience I think it's quite varied, different, like big employers that restorative partners with, like their return to work coordinators, sometimes are health professionals but sometimes not. They have like a HR background. Or you know local government departments we work with, they have more of a HR background too. So I think it really just depends, like if your passion is to help people during something hard, that's happening for them in that hard chapter. You know it could certainly be, you know, not necessarily a health professional in that space.
Sam Miklos:If an internal employer so let's talk about your award, yeah so congratulations rehab counsellor of the year. That's incredible.
Kate Coomber:I love that there's allied health awards I want to hear more about the health awards, like um, what are they? Where are they? How big were they? When you win, did you get like a little trophy? Yeah, yeah, like why did you win?
Chantelle Wood:yeah, tell us about the awards first?
Sam Miklos:yes, because I, because they're not every year. Sorry, that was a lot of questions. Yeah, I know this and this and this.
Chantelle Wood:I love it. It was such an incredible honour. So the Australian Allied Health Awards are led by the incredible Serena Jones. She is an absolute asset and industry disruptor. I love her. She created the awards to really platform health professionals because we don't get enough recognition particularly in the allied health space. You know doctors, you know they get their recognition. But we need the allied health profession.
Sam Miklos:It's like a tertiary profession, 100%.
Chantelle Wood:So she created the awards. There was, I think, about 10 or 15 different categories. It was an incredible night. It was held at the Star on the Gold Coast, which was just incredible, so luxe, everyone wore like gowns and it was just so special and was each specialty recognised.
Chantelle Wood:Absolutely so. When each category was announced, there was a bit of a spiel about what that profession is, which was incredibly beautiful, because you then got to sit there and be like, oh, wow, like you know that person does that or wow, what an incredible. You know, like speeches and hearing, you know exactly what they do and, again, just that group understanding and acknowledgement and everyone that was there was just incredibly beautiful and welcoming and just insightful in terms of their career. Like there was a lot of networking prior as well, which made a big difference, and you can kind of go the night and you already kind of know everyone.
Kate Coomber:How did you do that? How did you do the?
Chantelle Wood:networking prior. So that is like a night before, so it's like a cocktail evening for finalists.
Sam Miklos:And it was just so beautiful. Everyone just met and chatted. What a nice idea. A lot of professionals are literally the nicest. They are. Always friendly, always open. Probably too, because they're collaborating with so many different areas. 100% and from that.
Chantelle Wood:I was so lucky to meet so many other beautiful allied health professionals that now you know, coming away from the awards to be able to have, you know, connections like that, who you trust and that you know are good at what they do, as we know, is so hard to find. It's now led to you know, so many different collaborations with different cases and you know, oh, you'd be really good for this one or like and just be able to work with them and now on their like every day that you kind of talked about the awards and it actually comes to fruition.
Sam Miklos:It's really beautiful why do you think you won?
Chantelle Wood:like what do you question?
Sam Miklos:what have you done differently? Good question.
Chantelle Wood:I was thinking about that on the flight over of how to actually answer that I'd say from the outset you know it takes. I think you know after the awards and just the influx of referrals has been incredible. But it takes 10 years to be an overnight success. I feel that. I really feel that, me too 13 and counting.
Chantelle Wood:I feel like the biggest answer I would give to that is that over the 10 years of being a counsellor, I feel like I've always treated my clients like a person before a patient.
Chantelle Wood:So someone will walk in for their appointment, you know they may be worrying about their parking, they may be worrying about an argument they had with their partner that morning, they may be thinking about their child, you know, and what they're dealing with at school, like people present in front of you. As a holistic human being, you know an injury is part of their life and sure, especially if they're in pain, it's a big part of their life. But to be able to hold space for that and how they're presenting at that very moment, I think is really important and I think also for me it's really been important to highlight, when someone is going through a hard time, being that space for them and not being afraid of negative emotional states. You know you see in the movies or you know on TV shows. You know when someone's crying, you know everyone's quick to run and hold them and give them tissues and you know really try and make everything feel better. Sometimes people just need to sit in the yuckiness and just be sad and just be grieving you know the life.
Sam Miklos:It's hard for the person with the tissues, Absolutely.
Kate Coomber:But they don't need you to fix them.
Chantelle Wood:Yeah, they just want to be, and I think a big part of my sessions and what I'd like to think of myself as a counsellor is that I'm there for all aspects. I'm there to joke about maths with you, but then I'm also there to talk about the heavy stuff of what are we going to do now? Where's life going to take you now, after the injury?
Sam Miklos:and to be clear, that was maths, not maths yes, correct married at first sight.
Kate Coomber:Not mathematics, definitely not maths.
Sam Miklos:In case they come, you get a whole like a lot of referrals and they're there trying to joke to you about some trigonometry.
Chantelle Wood:Let's get back to the feelings.
Kate Coomber:So can you share with us, like I'd love to hear um a story or or really thinking to that person that you really know you've had impact on and you know it just must be really challenging to sit with all of those emotions, but so rewarding to help people through it incredibly so, um, I think there's been.
Chantelle Wood:You know there's been 10 years of incredible stories and people moving through that harder life chapter and being where they are now. A story I think that stuck with me was a number of years ago. For the sake of the podcast, we'll call her Christine. She was in Perth and she was actually involved in a motor vehicle accident. So she sustained a traumatic brain injury from that and she also sustained orthopedic injuries of different physical injuries to the body. Now, as a result of that, obviously she got referred rehab and unfortunately, people get referred occupational rehab a lot later in their journey. It's not early on, which is really hard, and that's something that really needs to change I was going to say can that change?
Chantelle Wood:Yeah, Like the doctors that get it, get it, or the other allied health professionals get it. They understand the importance of that early on. And how late do you mean? Oh, so in that particular one it was about six months to nine months later.
Sam Miklos:Yeah, okay, so much time is lost.
Chantelle Wood:Yeah, massive shift. So when I first met Christine, she was based at, like, an assisted living facility. So I'm not sure if you know what that is, but that's where they have like 24-7 support. There's nursing staff there, there's carers there, there's, you know, a whole team looking after them.
Chantelle Wood:And in meeting her it's really interesting because, like as a rehab counsellor, you take in the whole person and the whole context and then what's going on for this person? And when I met her we were, you know, sitting in this facility and we were chatting and I just thought, wow, like she presents so well, like her traumatic brain injury was to the frontal lobe, so that affected some executive functioning, so such as like attention, but her ability to really be present and she understood a lot what was going on and a lot was going on around her and a lot of her orthopedic injuries she'd recovered to a significant extent. So I just thought, wow, like she presents so well. So a big part of you know, ock, rehab is actually connecting with family as well and understanding what else is going on for that person in their world. We then had a family meeting and it was really interesting because in meeting her partner there was a big distinction in the fact that it was encouraged for her to remain in this assisted living facility. It was very much a, you know, he wanted to have more time with the children. She then wasn't living there, you know. Her time with them was really limited. There was a lot of financial benefit for her being within this facility and it's really interesting because, taking all that whole picture in and connecting with a beautiful nurse who I will always think of being an angel in that particular case, being really transparent with everything that's going on in terms of Christine's life outside of her injury and outside of the facility, it was clear that she presents a lot better and should not be there in that space. So essentially, long story short not be there in that space. So essentially long story short.
Chantelle Wood:I worked with Christine and her beautiful multidisciplinary team and we got her out of the facility. We got her living independently. She was absolutely thriving. We got her returning to work, earning her own income again.
Chantelle Wood:Before the accident she was actually operating machinery. She got back into doing that with a beautiful employer who we're connected with. That took a chance on her and knew that she was capable, just like we did and just like I did from that very first meeting and she was in supervisory roles and just absolutely excelled. And that to me the very last time I met with Christine because I'm only involved for a chapter in someone's life she said to me that you know she can never put into words just how thankful she was. And I said to her that you know you thriving is all the thanks that I need and that I'm so glad that we met and I'm so glad you felt safe to share everything going on in your world Because I have no question you know, different people that were in her life didn't believe she was capable. I did, and that's what I'm there to do. And the fact that she was thriving and the fact that I could walk away knowing that she was doing so well, that's my why.
Sam Miklos:That must be really tough when you can see she's capable. But the people in her life don't. They're not ready for that next change right?
Kate Coomber:Absolutely, because I imagine they've adjusted already and I don't think anyone can just imagine the situation.
Chantelle Wood:but yeah, to change again was obviously too much 100% and I think you know it's important to look at. You know someone and the context around them and you know what life was like before the injury or the illness or something happened. A lot of family dynamics may have been challenging beforehand and the role of a support person for someone I truly believe should be the role of supporting what they want and being right there for them and oftentimes it's really important in Ock Rehab and as a rehab counsellor to acknowledge when that's not happening. It's that real advocacy piece yeah, which isn't easy.
Chantelle Wood:Yeah, I imagine you come up against a lot of roadblocks absolutely, and a lot of doctors, a lot of specialists, a lot of employers all different aspects of someone's life, you know are really hesitant to change and I think I'd like to think of myself as someone who's there to make change. You know, I'm not just there to just not do anything with that person. We're actually going to go somewhere and again, we work that out together, we co-create that together.
Kate Coomber:And there's such a huge impact oh sorry, no, no go. I was just going to say of like this is such a positive impact for everyone you know, economically, for them, emotionally, like there's so many wins here.
Chantelle Wood:Yeah, to get people to that place yeah, it's such a privilege and I'm so grateful every day that I'm I'm doing what I'm doing like I'm. It's just an incredible honor to be there with someone that resistance from employers, you know with capacity and you've talked a few times about a few amazing employers.
Sam Miklos:Um, what would you say to those employers that are a little bit hesitant to return people to work, and how do you bring them on the journey and turn them into your black book of? Fabulous employers because, I think there'd be such a lack of awareness and understanding absolutely I would say good question, actually really good question.
Chantelle Wood:I would say that thank you.
Sam Miklos:I'm literally the thought of that one myself, and I did have two coffees today, so strap in.
Chantelle Wood:I would say the role of the employer is so critical they can really make or break, I think, someone's return, particularly if they have a disability or an injury that's permanent, that they are adjusting themselves to that and then what they can bring to a workplace. I think it's important for employers to know. Firstly, you know Safe Work Australia have indicated that you know the percentage of people that even have psychological injuries now that I work a lot in has gone up 97% in the 10 years 97%. So being open to someone returning to work that is going through psychological stress, not just physical injuries, is really important too, and being that creative, safe space for them. Another part I would say is you know being really proactive that there is such an untouched workforce there that have so many skills and that may have an injury that does recover in six months or three months, that they are someone that can really add a lot of value to your business and that even if they do actually have an employee that has had an injury at work, for instance, understanding the importance of early intervention, so getting occupational rehabilitation involved ASAP, you know, connecting them with a rehab counsellor, connecting them with people that are going to be really on board with support Because, remembering, when someone has an injury or an illness or something happens, they go to the doctor and you go to the doctor for a doctor's note, right, you go in and you walk in and you say what's negative and what's not going well for that person.
Chantelle Wood:But the importance of rehab is to really acknowledge wow, like you know, this is actually going really well, or this has gone great at home and this has gone great at work, and that really does change the whole framework of a medical case conference and a doctor's visit, because people are then understanding oh, wow, actually I did quite well this month, or I achieved this this month, and employers obviously aren't going to be part of that. You know, people's health is so private and so confidential. So being able to have a health professional who's there guiding that person through it, but also supporting a return to work, is really critical as well, so that they can just remain the supportive employer that they need to be.
Sam Miklos:What about with the new laws that have come in around psychological safety in the workplace? Has that led to an increase in work for you in terms of mental health presentations? So not just your traumatic motor vehicle accident, or are we seeing that yet?
Chantelle Wood:Good question. I think there's certainly more awareness of mental health. You know, particularly from social media, which is wonderful, and I think people are understanding. You know what workplace stress is and the impact it can have. You know and you know the joke on Instagram is you know you get your Sunday sads that come around, but if that's happening for you every week and that you're not wanting to go into that job and you're dreading Monday morning coming around like things can be different. So I feel like there has been an increase in awareness, which obviously then results in an increase in people needing to have time off. We've also had a very tumultuous last five years in Australia and the world, so people's resilience is a lot lower. So I think there's certainly been, as I said, evidence to show there's been an increase in psychological injuries because people Do those injuries find their way that you often have?
Chantelle Wood:Yes, sometimes. Yes, I think it depends. Like I said, I think if you have a supportive employer or an educated doctor or a whole team around that person who understands the value of they're entitled to have support involved from the day that the injury happens, that makes a massive difference Because, yeah, it's definitely led to an increase, which, again, is really hard because people's psychological health is so pivotal and that changes who they are as a whole person.
Sam Miklos:Is there work you think that could be done around that mental health crisis?
Chantelle Wood:I think that there's a lot of work that can be done. I think certainly being able to assist in counsellors being under Medicare and being able to be subsidised in addition to psychologists, would make a massive difference.
Kate Coomber:And so just to clarify, so if you need to see a psychologist, there's Medicare there to support you, correct. But if you chose to see a counsellor, there isn't.
Chantelle Wood:There is not. So it's not the same level of accessibility for people and the wait time is so astronomical that it's so hard and people are suffering. People are absolutely suffering, whereas Medicare you know it depends Like some private health funds they do fund counselling and they understand the value of that. I think it just really depends. Also, you know, employers typically offer like an employee assistance program and that can be through their counselling team that they have. You can also choose to be able to have your own counsellor added as your employee assistant. So there's a lot there that can be done. The people just don't know what they can change.
Sam Miklos:What's the difference between a counsellor and a psychologist? Good, question.
Chantelle Wood:I reckon a lot of people, yeah, and when you go, well, one's getting.
Sam Miklos:Medicare, one's not.
Chantelle Wood:Yes, good question.
Chantelle Wood:And again, you know I certainly you know value incredibly highly the beautiful psychologists and clinical psychologists that I work with.
Chantelle Wood:I think it's very different, you know, when you picture a psychologist, like in the movies, where you know you sit across from them in a consulting room and they're going to provide that really evidence-based treatment, which is incredible. Counsellors can also do that and rehab counsellors can also be there on a practical sense. So being there in the workplace with you in a meeting that you're struggling with or you're dreading to go to with your HR or with your employer, that you know is really stressing you out. Rehab counsellors can be there for that day-to-day as well. Rehab counsellors are tertiary educated, so there's certainly that background and that specialisation there too, and the training in cognitive behaviour therapy. You know I'm trained in that and so are all the other rehab counsellors that I know and I work with, and other counsellors too. So I think it's a really blurred line, but I think it's really important for people to know that there's other mental health services they can access, that's not just a psychologist.
Kate Coomber:So it might be really that education of our doctors and our healthcare professionals who are in that referring seat to have bigger understanding maybe in some cases I think it's quite similar. Because, yeah, the wait times are huge.
Chantelle Wood:Absolutely, and it's quite similar in the physical therapy space that some beautiful physios I work with. They certainly have incredible value, Same as an exercise physiologist you know different so again, like you know, they just add different types of skill sets that make a difference for someone and someone needs holistic support, Like I work in partnership with beautiful psychologists, like working on someone's case and that they're going to work on particular things with that person and I'm going to work on something different. And you just come together as a big team.
Sam Miklos:So tell us about your business. Yes, how long, when did you start it and why?
Kate Coomber:Yes good question You're clearly very passionate, thank you.
Sam Miklos:And what are you doing differently?
Chantelle Wood:Thank you, and what are you doing differently? Thank you so much. I started restorative in 2021. And, thinking about my why to get people through harder life chapters and work out who is me after injury, I feel like there's one story that I wanted to share that kind of really resonates with me and kind of before I started restorative, way back when a few years ago, a number of years ago now as to what kind of led me to think I need to help more people like I'm just not doing enough.
Chantelle Wood:So I was working, obviously, as a rehab counsellor, and I was connected with an employer and we were supporting someone in their return to work. So, for the sake of the story, we'll call her Bonnie. Now, bonnie and I had met a number of times before that. We were going to meet at her workplace and kind of plan that transition, how we're going to get her really supported and really held and feeling really good about coming back to work. So I met her downstairs, as I always do with my clients, because they deserve to be met exactly where they're at. I am right there with them from the second I walk in that door. I am by their side.
Chantelle Wood:So we met outside and we went up in the elevator because for her fatigue it wasn't an option to go up the stairs. We went up in the elevator together and I remember in the mirrored part of the elevator glass that she was fixing her headscarf. So Bonnie had breast cancer and so she was living with cancer and she was returning to work, which is another big area of voc rehab, of people that have, you know, illnesses, that they still need to work, know they still have a mortgage, they still have to look after their families that you still gotta do it.
Chantelle Wood:Life doesn't stop correct. So we walked inside, made her a herbal tea, as she couldn't be drinking coffee at the time, and we were chatting and a lot of our session that day focused on swiping on her phone different types of wigs and what we're going to be choosing and what's going to make her feel the most comfortable and the most like her before cancer happened, and how she was going to return to work in that retail role and be as comfortable as possible. And it was just so beautiful and just seeing how like clear she was and that, what she wanted to choose, and how she felt really empowered and feeling good. And you know, we had the appointment coming up, so we're going to kind of put the plan to them and say what we're going to be doing. And then she left and then it's interesting.
Chantelle Wood:You know rehab and particularly as a rehab counsellor, you see the whole picture of the whole situation, which sometimes is a blessing but sometimes it's a curse. So when Bonnie left, the supervisor was meant to be joining us. So when Bonnie left, the supervisor was meant to be joining us, which did not happen. And the supervisor pulls me aside when I went back upstairs and says to me that really Chantel, like should Bonnie be coming back to work? Like she's going to make people feel uncomfortable, yeah, in terms of her health condition.
Chantelle Wood:And you know, when I spoke about what we talked about, whether that was actually a good use of my time was the question.
Chantelle Wood:I was asked whether that was a good use of my time and you best believe I sat there and I reminded them that as a wholehearted hand on my heart, yes, that was an incredibly good use of my time. Yes, that was an incredibly good use of my time and I educated them about the fact of people returning to work in all different aspects of their health and their role as a supportive employer to be that and I share that story because it's such a privilege to be there and to be that shield, oftentimes for my clients with a difficult employer. And we then had the specialist appointment as planned days later and you know, just incredibly so she just managed to come back to work and be in a beautiful supervisory role because I made sure whatever we needed on that certificate we got, and she trusted me and I took that seriously and that you know, if that was in a different department to where that supervisor was go figure. Who would have predicted that would?
Sam Miklos:have happened, who would have?
Kate Coomber:thought who would have?
Chantelle Wood:advised happened, yeah. So for me, it's an incredible privilege to be part of that um and I think that yeah is really what I'd like to think is one of the many thousands of moments in the 10 years that led to me creating restorative in in 2021, that I just thought I need to help more people like I, need to have more of a reach and now to be, you know, running a business that's across Australia with my beautiful team, which I have to mention. Yeah, how big is your team?
Sam Miklos:and what skill sets? Yeah, good question.
Chantelle Wood:So we've got, like OTs, lots of different allied health. We've got exercise physiologists, we've got social workers who are very close to my heart. I love social workers and really just quite holistically being able to look after different people in all different phases of where they're at, because you know, if I can't help you, I can certainly connect you with someone you know that can in my team or outside of restorative. It's been an incredible honour with that. But I think, yeah, what we do differently is really meet that person where they're at and really support them with where they're going to be going, because you're only involved and I keep stressing this for a short time. You know, and that's as it should be.
Chantelle Wood:You know, sometimes you see people you know years on end to be going to treatment that they're still in that chapter and they're still stuck in it. But I think it's really important early on that and I say this to my clients that you know one day I'm going to be finished and you're going to know and you're going to know that it feels right. And I say this to my clients that you know one day I'm gonna be finished and you're gonna know and you're gonna know that it feels right, and I'm gonna be used to you coming in and telling me about the hard things and I might not know in that moment, but every day I'm working for that day, for you to be excelling and you to be thriving. And you know I have so many beautiful cards on my desk next to my trophy, but the cards are at the front.
Chantelle Wood:The cards are at the front that really to me, say exactly what the clients mean.
Kate Coomber:How do you look after yourself? Because I imagine they talk about compassion fatigue in many roles and vocations, especially being that shield. Yeah, and you are taking on so much of everyone else because we can see how passionate you are and how much you love it. Yes, but how do you also make sure that? Good question.
Chantelle Wood:I would say again, it's cliche but it's so true. I would say self-care, but not just in the sense of a bubble bath or disconnecting from social media. Like I've been incredibly blessed to be able to, you know, go on a women's business retreat last year with Lorraine Murphy she's incredible and Claire Obeid. That for me was my moment of my self-care and that reconnection and business planning and being able to have that space. So I would say in terms of, yeah, there is compassion, fatigue that a lot of health professionals go through because you are there and you are that, as we said, the shield, you're their protection.
Chantelle Wood:But I think it's really important to go back to your why and I was just saying to one of my beautiful OTs that I know in the industry in Perth the other day that it's important to do the clients and the cases and the work that really aligns with you. You know I'm really particular, like with particular clients. If I see that it's not going to align or it's not, I'm not exactly what they need. They need a different type of counsellor or they need, you know, someone who has a different type of personality. That's okay. Like that's you being a good health professional of recognising oh, like I don't think I'm going to be able to help this person and actually taking that step back, you know, and I think that's a really big, important decision you need to make. So also, I think the cliche goes, but it's true, saying no is the most powerful magnetic word you can do. So I've really yeah, I've been so lucky to build Restorative, to be so aligned.
Kate Coomber:You talked about the businesses being hosts of. You know for people to come back to work. Yes, do you? Are you looking for businesses?
Chantelle Wood:Oh always. How do you go about that? Is that something that?
Kate Coomber:people.
Sam Miklos:How do you go about?
Kate Coomber:that. Is that something that people? How do you fill the black book of businesses? Good question Can businesses out there go? We'd love to do that, absolutely yes 100%, absolutely.
Chantelle Wood:And again, because restorative look after clients across Australia and particularly in rural areas as well. There's certainly not enough education there on that being available too. So if there's any employers that are open to you know a placement with someone you know that is supernumerary, who can be an incredible asset to your team, I'm always happy to chat and to see how it could work. You know we have so many incredibly skilled clients. You know workers that would be incredible in different teams and just need to be given a chance. But people see you know the injury before they see the person. So I'm really working hard to reframe that.
Chantelle Wood:But yeah, I think it just depends Again, in the industry for so long you really get familiar with the really incredibly supportive employers. You know some of the big supermarkets, you know all those types of things, but I think it really makes a big difference when it's like a mum and dad team as well and they can have someone there who is skilled and oftentimes, to be honest, they lead to a job because they realize this person that's been there for 12 weeks is so good yeah and that they want to keep them, and what an incredible accomplishment for that person as well.
Sam Miklos:You said about. You know that you often capture people a couple of months down the line. But, what advice would you give to someone who's just sustained a life-changing injury?
Chantelle Wood:You know.
Sam Miklos:What do you wish you could say to them up front Good question.
Chantelle Wood:I was thinking yeah, it's so powerful, I think and just to be able to say to them exactly that I understand how much life has changed for you in this moment and that right now it doesn't feel like life's going to get any better. But I'm here to tell you that it's temporary. But, if I may, I would also like you to visualize something. Okay, I want you to picture yourself on the edge of a forest and you're walking towards the forest and there's like a beautiful, cool breeze on your face and you feel safe and you feel you're just walking, walking ahead, and you see, in the distance there's this beautiful fire that's burning and it's warm and you can feel it on your skin and you can hear people talking and laughing and everyone's happy and you keep walking through this forest and you get to the edge of where the campsite is and you see, you know the beautiful fire and you see, in this campsite there's all these past versions of you. So there's you there from childhood, there's you there in high school, there's you there with your first job, there's you there in all those important milestones in your life and that everyone's staying there and they're so happy to see you and you come over and you walk in and everyone's giving you a hug and everyone's just so excited and everyone's just telling you and so excited to hear what's happened and you, you share.
Chantelle Wood:You know that this is right now something bad's happened, like something bad, like this is not what I planned. And they're saying to you it's okay, you know, look, you got through this hard thing, but remember, this happened. We got through this. And there's all these different versions of you that are cheering you on and you stay there for a while and you chat with them and you feel like you're held by all these past versions of you. And then the sun's coming up and you start to walk away from the forest and you can hear people are still chatting and people are still happy. And then on the edge of the forest, I'm standing there and I'm waiting for you and I'm like let's go, let's plan, let's plan what we're going to do. Now I'm right here alongside you, side you, and we walk away and we actually make that plan happen so that we can remind you of all the things that the past versions of you said. That it's far more powerful than any advice I'm ever going to give you as your therapist.
Sam Miklos:I literally could cry.
Kate Coomber:That is so beautiful and I think a lot of people listening will get so much just from that and I think that speaks volumes of the sort of counselling that you provide and the sort of care that you give to every single person that you spend time with, to be honest or treat. What do you think as an industry needs to be done? Good question, that's actually. That's a big question in you know. Is it education? Where do we need to start? What does the after rehab industry?
Sam Miklos:need.
Chantelle Wood:Oh, good question. I feel like I'm one part of that wheel and I'm sure every health professional would have a different perspective of what needs to change. As a rehab counsellor, I would say that, again, I'm very lucky to have a beautiful you know, not just a black book of employers, but a black book of incredible treatment providers, incredible physios that I've worked with over the years, incredible OTs, people that we work together and collaborate. I think there needs to be that collaboration. You know the multidisciplinary team meetings acknowledging everyone's role and everyone's lane and how we're all working towards the same goal.
Chantelle Wood:In terms of what needs to change, I feel like there needs to be more early intervention.
Chantelle Wood:You know when someone has something that happens at work, you know being able to talk to a specialised counsellor, like a rehab counsellor, who can actually help plan of how they're going to return.
Chantelle Wood:What are you going to say in that workplace meeting when you go back, when you're meeting with HR and you're panicking, what are you going to do in that moment?
Chantelle Wood:Being able to have that extra support would be really good and there to be more knowledge about that. And, again, I think GPs are really understanding the value of that already and I've certainly seen that shift over the years but, like what we said before, with the rise of psychological injuries, it's really important to bring that to the forefront and people to have that knowledge that sometimes workplace stress is not just workplace stress. Sometimes there's a lot more going on for someone and you know there's a lot of measures that we, you know, can assess as counsellors and can work with you and can really make that determination of whether you're just experiencing workplace stress or whether there is, you know, a lot more going on in terms of depression or anxiety and then how we're going to shift that, because work needs to be something that you feel good about. Like what I said before, if you're having a sunday sads every week, we can change that. It doesn't need to be that hard yeah, it's really interesting, isn't it?
Kate Coomber:I think it's. It seems so niche, however so widespread and needed you know I think about people I know have had injuries, who certainly haven't had this support.
Chantelle Wood:And.
Kate Coomber:I'm just questioning why? How do we not know Absolutely? Why are they just left out trying to navigate what to do next? Absolutely, and then all the family are gathering around going. Well, we don't really know what to do either.
Chantelle Wood:And the families are so critical in that you know the amount of times you know a lot of referral restorative receives actually is from you know beautiful family members and that they say you know my mum's had an injury or you know dad hasn't been at work now for six months. Like what do we do? And particularly if they're not covered under workers' compensation? And this is just an injury that happens in life you know, like a slip trip or a fall. There needs to be someone that works with them, and you know, that's why their primary health health provider.
Chantelle Wood:Their GP is really critical. But oftentimes everyone thinks about the physical right so quickly go see a physio and let's get you better. But if getting you better is not going to be the end result, like you're not going to completely recover, we need to have a contingency for that. So I agree, it's such a space where you meet people, as I said, after the big bad thing, and I think a lot of that is spent stabilising them and trying to get them to move forward.
Sam Miklos:That's an interesting point, though. People can find you not just through like a work of acclaim Absolutely. It might be that someone's actually just reaches out to your business directly. Absolutely, you don't need to be referred, so to speak.
Chantelle Wood:Correct. So Restorative Equ boutique that we work with a lot of local governments and insurers and some of the big employers in Australia and we look after their team members when something bad happens at work. But a lot of certainly, what I specialize in is in that motor vehicle accident space as well. But in addition to that, yes, if something generally happens in life and you're not covered under life insurance and you're not able to have any form of income coming in but you need to do some type of work and you have no idea what that would be, that's where I come in and that's where I help you and we work that out together.
Kate Coomber:I love that, so we're going to make a donation.
Sam Miklos:Cmr making a donation with every episode.
Kate Coomber:Where can we make a donation for you today? Good question.
Chantelle Wood:I would love to share a little story, if I may, as to where and as to why. So I would love a donation to go to Solaris Cancer Care. So they are a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful charity that's based in WA and the story is this that I was in Solaris, I was visiting there a few years ago now a couple of years ago now and they provide incredible holistic services for people that are going through cancer treatment. So, whether that be massages or even just a cup of tea and a biscuit, they provide acupuncture all different types of modalities counselling. They do it all there. Acupuncture all different types of modalities counselling. They do it all there For really just something that's a nice moment away from cancer and something that's actually just really special being in there.
Chantelle Wood:And yeah, when I was in there a couple of years ago, there was a lady that came in and she was standing at the front desk and I'll never forget it, and she was obviously undergoing cancer treatment and she was wearing well, she would have been wearing a cold cap. So I'm not sure if you're aware of what that is, which is a blessing. The cold cap is what people wear when they want to keep their hair, when you're going through chemotherapy. Obviously, the cold cap had worked in some parts, but in some parts, you know, she had significant hair loss and you could see that her hair was, you know, quite long before all this happened. You know she had significant hair loss and you could see that her hair was, you know, quite long before all this happened. And she was staying there and she was, you know, really excited because in that tin of the biscuits they had that week the really fancy yarn it's one.
Sam Miklos:You know they had the short thread, they had the monte carlo cream.
Chantelle Wood:Yeah, they had all the good stuff this week absolutely and she was excited for that because last week, you know, it wasn't an option because, again, solaris are just led by donations as a charity to have that space. And she was standing there and she wanted to book in for a massage and she wanted to kind of time it that it was going to be around her treatment because the last thing she wanted to do was to come into the hospital again. And she was standing there and she was working it out and the beautiful, beautiful people that work there, they're absolute angels on earth and the lady was helping her work out when she could get in and because there's such a wait time, it was going to be, you know, months away in terms of her appointment and she was quite disappointed. I remember like hearing her intonation change in her voice and she was a bit sad that it was going to be a bit further away but her treatment was going to be going on for a while. So she was, you know, she was still going to book and I'm just getting a bit emotional.
Chantelle Wood:She was giving her name to the receptionist that was standing there and she's like, oh, you know, it's Diana. You know, just like the princess and my heart, like in that moment I just thought like there needs to be like more spaces and places just like this that is holding someone through the really hard moments and just has a cuppa and just to be there with that person. And it's not all medicalised, you know, it's just that moment. So if there's anything yes, anyone can take from this episode don't listen to me, just donate to Solaris, because donate it for people just like Diana, just like the princess, to give them that moment and that space.
Sam Miklos:Chantelle, you are incredible. Honestly, thank you. You are just. You know, they say you'd never work a day if you do what you love. Oh, 100% you are so passionate about an area that is just so unknown. And I think you know, even as an OT here at Macro Rehab, it always just seems like a bit of consulting on the side.
Sam Miklos:But when you actually hear your stories there will be so many people that will hear this and think oh that is just such an incredible profession to work in it is, and how lucky your patients are to work with you and clients. I think it's amazing.
Chantelle Wood:I'm the lucky one, it's a privilege to be there and that I just, yeah, it's an incredible honour. And you know the saying goes, and I truly believe it the universe only ever has three answers for you. This was in Samantha Will's book, which is my absolute. I love her. The Universe on the Earth has three answers yes, not right now, or I have something better in store, and I truly live by that and I feel like I'm doing exactly what I meant to be doing and I am absolutely. It's an incredible privilege to be there with my patients, for them, and, yeah, what an honour. And thank you for today. I've absolutely loved it.
Kate Coomber:It's been so nice to play a part in it. Thank you for coming in.
Sam Miklos:Thank you so lucky to have you in Brisbane. Yeah, shout out to Restorative based in Perth.
Chantelle Wood:Based in Perth, but across Australia, but across Australia.
Sam Miklos:So absolutely, but thank you so much for your time. Thank you so much. Thanks for tuning in to it Takes Heart.
Kate Coomber:If you love, review or share it with a friend, and if you know someone with a great story in healthcare, get in touch. Follow us on socials for all the behind the scenes fun, and we'll see you next time.
