A Framework for Career Reconstruction Following Personal Injury and Disability

Abstract

Obtaining a new job or finding a new career is of prime importance for many seriously injured adults from motor vehicle injuries, workplace accidents or other personal injuries (e.g., medical negligence, public liability). The huge number of such cases world-wide calls for career, vocational rehabilitation or employment counsellors to heighten their awareness of the specific issues related to adult personal injury and disability. At the outset, the general situation in Australia is used as an example of the problems in education and workforce participation of those with disabilities. Issues of lower than average educational achievement, the impact on employment participation and the extent of discrimination are outlined.With this background in mind, the present state of career counselling for personal injury and disability is reviewed and a framework for a career counselling approach is proposed that (a) addresses the existential needs of the person and (b) builds upon their pre-injury vocational identity in order to adapt. A career construction outlook that promotes adaptability and resilience is proposed as a basis for working with personal injury in those who are moving back to the world of work.