Kate ThomsonPsychological Recovery Specialist
Professional Experience
Kate is a Psychological Recovery Specialist at Resilia. Kate’s career has spanned a decade specialising within the workplace occupational rehabilitation industry, working both as a Rehabilitation Counsellor and Senior Manager. Kate has over 10 years experience providing workplace rehabilitation consulting services within a variety of schemes including NSW WorkCover, Comcare, CTP, Corporate Services and Life insurance.
At Resilia, Kate works in partnership with a range of insurance agencies and organisations to provide tailored advisory services and psychological rehabilitation solutions that aim to intervene early and facilitate recovery following a psychological injury. Kate provides strategic advice to customers on issues that have arisen in workplaces as well as key recommendations on services to resolve the presenting challenges using Resilia’s strategic wellbeing model.
Kate leads our national team of Rehabilitation Consultants in developing and delivering our psychological rehabilitation and recovery service offerings, ensuring they continue to support positive recovery outcomes for both the individual, employer and insurance agencies and delivers services in accordance with best-practice guidelines.
Kate is highly regarded in the industry and is regularly asked for comment from media organisations and undertake speaking engagements on the prevention, intervention and recovery from psychological injury.
Qualifications and Professional Affiliations
Kate has a Bachelor of Health Science (Rehabilitation Counselling) degree and Master of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations degree from the University of Sydney.
Member of the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors (ASORC)
Member Australian HR Institute (AHRI)
publications
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Supporting sustainable work for neurodiverse employees with ADHD
In Australia, ADHD affects approximately one in 20 people [1]. ADHD can go undiagnosed in childhood and adult presentations may differ from childhood presentations of ADHD. Adults with ADHD may experience challenges with memory, organisational capacity and abilities, concentration and focus, and emotional regulation and social communication (these presentations can vary in every individual). However, people with ADHD can also possess certain strengths such as creativity, innovation, and intrinsic motivation, which can be further developed with the right support.
March 3, 2023 -
Managing neurodiverse employees
When neurodiverse employees thrive and obtain high performance, it is often due to their differences and behaviours being well understood and accepted within their organisations. It also occurs when supportive leaders work with the individual to identify their strengths, weaving these into the job design of their role. Where organisations have put appropriate support measures in place, neurodiverse individuals prove to be comparable to neurotypical employees in work quality, efficiency and productivity and in some cases exceed their neurotypical counterparts in innovation.
February 17, 2023 -
Addressing psychosocial risks to support return to good work
Returning to and recovering at work is an important part of rehabilitation following a psychological injury. It helps with recovery, prevents relapse, and provides individuals with appropriate social connections and support mechanisms. However, when an employee returns to work, following a psychological injury, working environments must be safe and free from psychological harm to prevent further risk to their mental health and wellbeing.
February 8, 2023