

2. How will your projects benefit others?

3. What challenges are you facing in progressing your projects?
- when injured workers, no matter where they are, know that they have no reason to be fearful of the workers compensation industry, because they will be welcomed into a 'family' of injured workers, they will be supported through the healing process and they will be guided to return to life-community-work in a manner that is both timely and cost effective for the injured worker and the employers.
- when injured workers and employers no longer argue in a legal setting but sit together over coffee and discuss the best suitable way forward to ensure the best of all outcomes for both parties.
- when no child goes hungry or no family is broken because of a workplace injury.
- when the laughter that fills the Centre replaces all the tears of injured workers everywhere.
- when injured workers no longer have to hide their workers compensation history.
- when there is the realisation that injured workers can and do do the most amazing things because they have a support network around them that gets excited by every milestone no matter how tiny or how large.
- when the money generated in keeping injured workers churning through the system is invested into real assistance.
- when an injured worker smiles and knows they have a future worth pursuing.
5. What three things do you most need right now?
- larger premises to explore what more is possible for injured workers.
- funding to cover wages of key people.
- recognition for the real and very tangible changes that are being made at the Centre within the workers compensation industry.
Founder, Work Injured Resource Connection
e: reception@wirc.net.au

After being injured in the workplace Rosemary McKenzie-Ferguson decided to use her misfortune to benefit others. In 1996, she founded Work Injured Resource Connection to empower the work-injured through practical and emotional support. Understanding the difficulties and debilitating effects of suffering a work-related injury herself, Rosemary has been able to provide individual support whenever it is needed.
In her role as a community advocate, Rosemary is on call 24 hours a day and frequently travels long distances at her own cost to support people in distress. She attends case conferences, medical appointments and cases at trial at the request of injured workers. Rosemary also organises the International Day of Mourning to commemorate fatally injured workers and created a memorial forest in Bonython Park with a tree planted for every person that has died as a result of workplace injury. Rosemary continues to provide support to many Australians and helps give injured workers a voice.
Gained a Pride of Australia Pin 2009
Advantage SA Community leader 2011-2012
Charles Sturt Citizen of the Year 2012
Featured on the Adelaide Residential White Pages phone book 2012-2013