Sedgwick has acquired employer-based telehealth provider Direct Health Solutions (DHS), entering the absence management area in Australia and expanding its global offering.

“DHS helps companies manage employee leave and absence with care and empathy, which aligns naturally with Sedgwick’s mission to take care of people in their time of need and help clients navigate these processes with ease,” Sedgwick Australia CEO Diego Ascani said.

Sedgwick says the purchase complements its developing injury management, employee productivity and workers’ compensation solutions in Australia.

The group’s other local operations include property loss adjusting and services in casualty lines.

DHS, founded in 2004, says it was the first company in Australia to introduce a nurse-led telehealth absence management service. It later developed an injury triage service and medical advice line.