What to expect when working with a workplace rehabilitation provider
Research indicates that prolonged absence from work can reduce the likelihood of a worker returning at all. Early intervention and return to work can shorten recovery times.
If your worker has a complex injury, talk to your insurer about whether hiring a workplace rehabilitation provider could help with your worker’s rehabilitation and return to work (RRTW). These providers are independent organisations with qualified health professionals like occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and psychologists.
Best practice
For complex injuries, consult with your insurer regarding whether it may be beneficial to engage a workplace rehabilitation provider for support managing a worker’s RRTW.
Workplace rehabilitation providers are organisations comprised of qualified allied health professionals, such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and psychologists. They are independent of other stakeholders and specialise in supporting the complex needs of workers and employers to achieve early, safe and sustainable return to work.
Why this is important
Research indicates that prolonged absence from work can reduce the likelihood of a worker returning at all. Early intervention and return to work can shorten recovery times.
A workplace rehabilitation provider will work closely with you to address risk factors that can affect a worker’s ability to recover at, or return to, work. This may include working with you and your worker to ensure that their suitable duties program is person-centred and tailored to the needs of both the worker and the workplace.
What actions can I take now?
Talk to your insurer about the type of workplace rehabilitation provider most appropriate for your situation. Your insurer must initiate the referral to the provider.
Depending on the circumstances a workplace rehabilitation provider may assist with:
- mediation or facilitated workplace discussions where there are significant barriers preventing a worker participating in a return to work program. The provider delivers strategies to overcome the barriers, which may include beliefs about return to work, availability of suitable duties or psychosocial factors
- workplace assessment, developing a suitable duties program and/or workplace modifications and equipment that may support return to work
- physical or psychological functional capacity evaluations to estimate capacity for work or potential to return to suitable work
- job placement services including host placements for when your worker cannot return to their original workplace or when the return to work goal is to return to work with a new employer
- case conferencing with a worker, employer representative, insurer and treating medical and/or allied health providers to support an agreed direction for managing return to work.
A workplace rehabilitation provider does not replace the role of your rehabilitation and return to work coordinator or treating health providers (who are individual health professionals that provide treatment).
After your insurer has referred to a provider, they may contact you (depending on the service required). Talk to them about the referral and how you can best support the process.
Your toolkit
- Learn more about workplace rehabilitation providers:
- Read the principles of practice (PDF, 0.28 MB) for workplace rehabilitation providers to learn more about their role in optimising recovery and return to work.
- Find out how a return to work services provider can help you improve your business.
- Develop job task analysis for your workplace using easy to use templates.
- Provide your job task analysis details to your worker’s medical practitioner and workplace rehabilitation provider to help them understand your worker’s pre-injury role and duties.