New work arrangements might include:

• Temporary onsite work options such as reduced work hours
• Working from home, where applicable
• Limited responsibilities
• Return-to-work transition programs to prepare you to resume full work duties

Monty Summers – Bone marrow recipient

Don’t be afraid to speak up and discuss apprehensions, and even ask for the odd day off if required. The more your employer understands your condition and how it affects you, the more beneficial it will be for you in the long run.

Reviewing and updating your resume

Explaining a little about your circumstances will help employers understand the gaps in your resume. Although you are not obliged to declare your circumstances/health issues, it may help to script it out and practice what you choose to disclose.

There are many information sites that provide advice on writing resumes and offer templates. While listing skills, include skills you may have acquired while unwell and away from work. For example, they could be soft skills like managing your family or even organising everyone’s diary.

For information on a range of employment services and work available for job seekers visit:

• Jobactive 
• Ability Options
• Epic assist
• Nova Employment

To see information at the state level, see below:

QLD: Queensland Government – Employment and jobs

NSW: NSW Government – Finding a job or Ability Options

NT: Work in the Northern Territory

VIC: Government of Victoria – Jobs or Victorian skills gateway

WA: Government of Western Australia – Jobs

ACT: Jobs ACT

SA: sa.gov.au

WA: WA Jobs

“Since returning to work my management and HR Team have been outstanding, providing me with facilities within the business along with change-of-hours to accommodate my strength, and getting the best out of me just 6 months post-transplant. Flexible hours, time off for hospital visits and providing counselling services if needed – I couldn’t have asked for a better transition, even though it’s been hard at times. I am very grateful for their support” – Lisa Chaney, kidney recipient.

Disclosure to your new employer

You may like to maintain privacy and are under no legal obligation to disclose your circumstances to a new employer if your health issues do not impact your performance. Some of the reasons for non-disclosure may include:

• You feel that no adjustments need to be made to your job now or in future
• You are worried about discrimination, harassment, negative attitudes or being denied promotions

However, if your health condition changes and it starts affecting your job, you might decide to disclose your health situation to your employer because:

• You might need to make some workplace adjustments like flexible arrangements
• Your employer may need to consider the health and safety aspects of your work environment. For example, you may not be allowed to lift heavy weights until cleared by the transplant team
• You want to ensure that equal opportunity policies, with commitment to non-discrimination, are applicable. Remember that a disability discrimination complaint cannot be lodged if you haven’t disclosed your condition

Click here for more on your rights as an employee with an illness.

Get into the work habit

Voluntary work, whether helping at schools or a charity will help you adapt to a routine and is a great way to get work experience. Look for opportunities at places like Volunteering Australia, Probono Australia and Go Volunteer.

Networking may be one way to help you get a break. If you have contacts in the sector you’d like to work in, approach them for advice and put a word out to family and friends.

Interacting with colleagues after transplant

Going back to work and interacting with coworkers can be complicated. Your coworkers may have limited knowledge about transplantation; think that you’re still gravely ill or treat you like a fragile person.

Open discussions with coworkers would help educate them and put everyone at ease.

Types of unreasonable behaviour may include:

• Being demoted without clear reason
• Not being promoted to an earned position or being overlooked for a new position
• Lack of flexibility around doctors’ appointments or tests

If you feel unfairly treated at work, talk to a healthcare worker or transplant unit. Do not let any ill-informed notions hold you back.

There are national and state laws on equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination at the workplace that can protect you.

While you were unwell, it might have been too hard to maintain social connections.

• Before transplant, you may have felt anxious about the future, upcoming surgery and having to take time off work
• Immediately after surgery, you may worry about your new organ working, coping with medications; experience frustration and feel like you have no control over what’s happening to you
• After going home, you may worry about managing frequent hospital visits; feel disappointed if you don’t feel as energetic as you or your family anticipated
• As you recover, you may experience anxiety about going back to work; your financial situation, or having a setback in your health (like an infection). You still feel tired but family and friends expect you to resume life and do everything you did before you were sick   

Little steps go a long way

When picking up a social life again, don’t put pressure on yourself or overdo it. Plan things to look forward to, and set easy goals like having a night out once a week.

Stay connected with friends, even if you’re not able to meet face-to-face right away, through Skype or social media.

When you feel up to it, you could try a new hobby, activity or even volunteering. However, make sure to stay away from crowded places like shopping malls and pubs, where the chances of picking up infections are high, for the first 3 months or until your transplant doctor advises.

Returning to your extra-curricular events, or beginning new activities (like dance classes, sports team, kids club, gymnastics or youth group) can be an exciting new chapter. However, it is also natural for you (or your child) to have concerns around keeping safe from germs and how to help others understand there are extra things to consider. If the activity you are returning to or commencing has forms to fill out, you can simply write in the medical history that you are ‘post-transplant’ or ‘immune suppressed’ with a little description around when to notify you (for example if the child has a temperature, vomiting or becomes unwell). If a form has an option for dietary requirements, you could write that your child can’t eat off share platters, eat soft cheeses, deli-meats or re-heated food.

Some tips for keeping safe:

• Ask the leader/teacher/coach to notify you if someone has become unwell with a temperature or respiratory illness.
• Explain the importance of notifying you if your child becomes even mildly unwell.
• Ask permission to change seats if someone is coughing (or unwell) beside you.
• Always take a pocket sanitiser (and ask your school to place sanitisers at the entry to classrooms).
• Don’t share bubblers or drink bottles.
• Give the teacher an idea of the frequency you expect to be away due to blood tests or medical follow up.
• Have a letter from the Specialist or Physiotherapist advising what you can now participate in (for example: even if you can do anything now, teachers may be cautious if you were quite unwell before transplant. Preempting this can prevent you/your child from missing out on things they can.
• Alternatively, limitations you have (like needing extra time to warm up before sport or not participating in contact sports (where relevant) may be helpful for a teacher to have in writing.

Parents, as much as it may be difficult, allow your child to participate in as much as possible and enjoy their new life free from a failing organ. Be kind to yourself and practise self-care as feeling at ease after a long time of illness may take time. Encourage your child to enjoy their new life and participate in whatever they are able. Wrapping them in cotton wool is tempting, but allowing them to enjoy as much as they can will be better for them long term. If in doubt about anything, ask your child’s team.