Helping you return to work with purpose and ease
We can help you identify your strengths, skills and capabilities, explore suitable roles and industries, and support you with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), upskilling or training if required.
Rebuild your confidence and take the next step toward a safe, sustainable return to work
Helping You Plan Your Return to Work
Recovering from an injury can bring up many questions about your future at work. You may be wondering what your options are, what support is available, or how to take the next step with confidence.
At Workers Health Centre, our Career Support Services are here to support you as you plan your working future after injury. We help you build knowledge, confidence and practical career management skills so you can make informed decisions that feel right for your circumstances.
Our approach is supportive, practical and centred on you. We work with you to identify safe, durable and meaningful employment pathways that take into account your recovery, your strengths and your goals.
You may use our services to:
- Return to your pre-injury role, where this is safe and suitable
- Explore suitable modifications or adjustments within your current role
- Consider a different position with your existing employer, if needed
- Develop new skills and rebuild confidence during your recovery
- Explore alternative employment options, only when this is appropriate for you
You will be supported by qualified Career Development Practitioners who use evidence-based career development theory, career counselling practices and the Australian Blueprint for Career Development (ABCD) to guide their work with you
Tailored career coaching to get you back on track
Our expert team have a strong track record of assisting individuals in achieving their goals. We work with people at any stage of their career. including but not limited to those:
- Recovering from a psychological and/or physical injury
- Impacted by organisational change or role redundancy
- Returning to work after a period of maternity leave
- Ready to return to work or make a change in their career
- Needing to rebuild motivation after a period of not working
Career Buddy Program
Build Confidence. Explore Your Options. Plan Your Next Step.
Recovering from an injury can create uncertainty about your future at work. The Career Buddy Program provides personalised career support to help you build confidence, understand your options and make informed decisions about your next step.
Working one-on-one with a dedicated Career Consultant, you’ll receive practical guidance, encouragement and support throughout your return-to-work journey.
The program is designed to help you:
- Understand your strengths, skills and interests
- Identify what is important to you in work and life
- Build confidence following injury or workplace change
- Explore suitable opportunities within your current workplace
- Strengthen your career decision-making skills
- Develop confidence to adapt to change
- Create a positive plan for your future
Our approach is personalised, supportive and focused on helping you move forward with confidence.
Career Transition Program
Support for Workers Exploring New Employment Opportunities
When returning to your previous role is not possible, finding a new direction can feel overwhelming. Our Career Transition Program provides practical support, career guidance and career coaching to help you successfully transition to new employment.
Whether you’re exploring new career options, updating your job search skills or preparing for interviews, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Participants may receive support with:
- Career exploration and identifying suitable employment options
- Understanding transferable skills and career pathways
- Resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile development
- Job search, networking and hidden job market strategies
- Job application and interview preparation
- Injury disclosure guidance
- Building confidence, resilience and motivation
- Developing a personalised career action plan
Our goal is to help you identify realistic employment opportunities and develop the confidence and skills to secure meaningful work.
Included SIRA Funded Incentives Available for Workers
Feeling uncertain during change is completely natural, you’re not alone
If you’ve been in a comfortable role for a long time and potentially can’t return, it’s natural to feel uncertain. But with bespoke, guided programs like CMS Flourish and CMS Optimise, you’re in expert hands as you navigate a career change.
Success Stories / Real Experiences / Real Results
“Merly is always punctual, vibrant and enthusiastic. She has constantly provided: Beneficial, integral advice, support and consistent encouragement to me in our career support sessions. Merly is extremely compassionate, insightful and it is evident that she is genuinely invested in my success. I highly recommend Merly and I am extremely grateful to be receiving ongoing career support from her, as my career support consultant, at Workers Health Centre. Thank you so much Merly!”
“I am deeply grateful to Merly for her incredible advice, support, and unwavering encouragement. After a disappointing experience with a previous career coach, I was hesitant to try again. However, Merly exceeded all my expectations. From our very first session, she was a breath of fresh air: compassionate, insightful, and genuinely invested in my success. Merly brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic guidance to every conversation. Her creative problem solving consistently led me to ideas and opportunities I would never have discovered on my own. Thanks to her guidance, I now feel genuinely confident about transitioning into a new career field. More than just a coach, Merly has been a true advocate, believing in my potential even when I had doubts. She has empowered me to research effectively, network with purpose, identify areas to upskill, and present myself to potential employers in a way that truly reflects my abilities, personality, and experience. What makes Merly especially remarkable is how much heart she brings to what she does. She gives her full self to the process and deeply cares about the people she works with. I can’t recommend her highly enough.”
“Merly’s cheerful, positive but realistic attitude is a breath of fresh air. Her knowledge of different fields has allowed me to ‘think outside the box’, an easy situation to get stuck in when you have been in one career or industry for a long time. She goes the extra mile to help and has provided me with many different avenues to consider; again, invaluable when you have been stuck in a certain mindset for too long. She also understands the pressures of making big changes and that makes her pace, delivery and suggestions top-notch. I feel very lucky to have been teamed up with her and do not doubt it has helped me to get onto the right path at the right pace.”
“Prior to career coaching I was in fear and panic at the prospect of re-entering the workforce. In the time I’ve been working with Merly I’ve experienced benefits including reconnecting to the confidence I had pre injury, and understanding my rights. Merly draws on her professional experiences in recruitment and knowledge of mental health to tailor each session. For example if I am having an emotional day, the session has been focused on listening to my fears and providing reassurance around my employee rights. On other sessions we have practiced skilled based activities including cover letter writing and mock interview. I have gone from having panic attacks at the thought of re-entering the workplace, to realising my worth.”
“Merly has been incredibly supportive and insightful in guiding me through my return to work. Her expertise and encouragement has made me feel more confident in my abilities to be successful.”
“Merly is an energising career coach who gives expert advice on career transition strategies. She offers extremely practical advice from her wealth of knowledge on recruitment and how to build a job seeking profile. Merly has been an excellent support to me in our career support sessions.”
Our Team
Merly Hartnett
Senior Career Consultant
Merly is a Career Development Specialist and HCANZA-Accredited Health Coach with over a decade of experience in occupational rehabilitation and workplace wellness. With a client-centred and evidence-based approach, Merly empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of modern life while prioritising holistic wellbeing and career satisfaction. Rejecting a one-size-fits-all mentality, she advocates for a balanced lifestyle and career that is both achievable and sustainable.
Drawing from her extensive background in occupational rehabilitation, Merly recognised the pressing need for a proactive and comprehensive approach to chronic stress and injury recovery. This realisation propelled her towards health coaching, injury prevention, and championing workplace wellness initiatives.
Merly specialises in facilitating career transitions and providing advisory services to help individuals achieve their professional aspirations after significant life events such as workplace injury. Prior to working for Workers Health Centre, Merly worked as a contractor taking up roles such as Employment Consultant, Career Consultant, Labour Market Investigator and Disability Assessor in WA, VIC, NSW and QLD.
Committed to contributing to the success and growth of dynamic organisations through workplace wellness and employee retention, Merly strives to make a meaningful impact in both the health and career sectors.
Ready to Move Forward?
Talk with our Career Services Team today.