Mr Robins spent more than 15 years away from work after he witnessed a fire in 1994, which killed multiple people and left him with post traumatic stress disorder.

He was still off work in 2009 when he was involved in a motorcycle crash which saw him lose the use of his right arm

The Talbot man said he was finally preparing to return to work when the accident happened while I was riding in the bush.

“I was down at the Epworth in Richmond for six or seven months and from there it was a lot of backwards and forwards,” Mr Robins said.

“I’d never had a history of horses at all, but after my accident in 2009 , the surgeon told me I could do everything except ride a horse, so I took up horse riding.

Mr Robins has since gone on to compete in disability classes and events around the country.

“I’ve competed for Victoria and at national level, but I’m not quite to Paralympic level yet,” he said.

“But it is one of those sports you can compete up until your 60s and 70s, it would be amazing to be able to compete at that level one day if I could.”

Mr Robins said his work at the Darren Weir stable involved general day-to-day activities, but just being among some of Australia’s best race horses every day was a thrill and he was grateful to his case manager who made it happen.

“It’s incredible, I absolutely love it,” he said. “I love all the horses, and I’ll admit, I don’t have a tip for the Caulfield Cup, I don’t really get into that side of things, I love all things to do with the horses, except the gambling side of it.

“It would be wonderful if one of them could win.”

Mr Robins is one of a host of nominees for the WorkSafe Safety Awards which will be presented tonight at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne. 

WorkSafe Chief Executive Clare Amies said each finalist deserved recognition for their hard work and dedication to improving health and safety outcomes for workers and, in the case of injured workers themselves, their courage and perseverance to overcome obstacles and return to work.

“These determined individuals have in common a passionate approach to preventing workplaces injuries and illnesses and doing what they can to help others – or themselves – return to safe work after injury,” Ms Amies said.

“Our finalists have set a strong example for the community when it comes to workplace health and safety, and they deserve to be recognised. 

“It is satisfying to see such a wide variety of industries represented.”

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