Second Injury

Injured by the job. Harmed again by the system.

Police officers and paramedics face trauma most of us never will.
When they are psychologically injured, the system should help them recover, not make things worse.
They protected us. Now they need our help.

WHAT IS THE SECOND INJURY?
Delays. Poor communication. Interrupted treatment. Financial pressure. Responsibility
passed from one agency to another.
These problems can deepen an emergency worker’s original psychological injury and place
families under enormous strain.

WHY WE STARTED THIS PROJECT
New Zealand Police is an accredited employer under the ACC scheme and contracts Howden Care to manage workplace injury claims on its behalf.

Through our frontline casework, Blue Hope documented concerns about delays,
communication and continuity of rehabilitation. We raised these concerns with Police, Howden, ACC and government oversight bodies.

Police injury management is supported by public money. New Zealanders are entitled to ask whether that money is delivering safe, timely rehabilitation and helping experienced police workers recover.

The risk is wider than Police. Paramedics and their families can also be harmed when rehabilitation systems become delayed or fragmented.

WHAT WE WANT

Safe treatment. Clear responsibility. Independent ACC management when an employer- linked process is no longer working.

Blue Hope brings lived experience and frontline evidence.
Franks Ogilvie, specialist public lawyers, are helping us examine the evidence and pursue lasting reform.

WE NEED PUBLIC SUPPORT
Your voice and your donation can help us:
• support injured emergency workers and families;
• bring the evidence into public view; and
• campaign for a safer system and better use
of public money.