Guidance, research and initiatives

Respect@Work

Over 1,100 workers responsible for managing, administering, supporting and resolving disputes on workers’ compensation claims in Queensland have completed the Australian Human Rights Commission’s (AHRC) Respect@Work training.

This training and education on the nature, drivers and impacts of sexual harassment is important and designed to support better experiences for workers. It builds the capacity of insurer staff involved in a worker’s claim, including rehabilitation and return to work.

Workers’ compensation scheme grants

Getting support

Help support Queensland workers and employers by connecting them into free, confidential and independent support services, including the:

• Workers’ Psychological Support Service, a personalised support service that helps Queensland workers experiencing work-related psychological injuries and their families to connect with community support services. It is available before, during or after a claim. The service is not a crisis line.
• Workers’ Compensation Information and Advisory Service for Workers, available to Queensland workers to support their understanding of and ability to navigate the workers’ compensation scheme, injury management and their rehabilitation and return to work. This service is available to all Queensland workers employed by a Queensland employer before, during or after a claim.
• Workers’ Compensation Information and Advisory Service for Employers, which provides advice to Queensland employers to support their understanding of and ability to navigate the workers’ compensation scheme, injury management and rehabilitation and return to work obligations. The service is available to all Queensland employers regardless of their location or membership of the service provider.

Medical research

More than $3 million of grant funding has been approved for medical research that improves the health and wellbeing of Queensland workers with occupational dust lung diseases like coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and silicosis. Read more

On 7 June 2024, the Queensland Government announced that almost $600,000 of funding has been awarded to the University of Queensland to facilitate a 3-year research project on best practice return to work for workers in the mining and artificial stone industries. Read more

Mental injury resource for employers

We are consulting with the office of the Queensland Small Business Commissioner, insurers, peak industry associations and experts to develop a mental injury resource for small to medium employers.

The resource, expected to be finalised by the end of October 2024, will support employers to recognise signs of a work-related psychological injury. It will help employers to apply best practice evidence-informed support for their worker while also accessing free, independent support for themselves.

National RTW survey 2024-25

The survey helps us to gather important information on the return to work experiences of Australian injured workers. We use this information to inform our strategic priorities and regulatory activities.

The 2024-25 survey will be expanded to include employers’ return to work experiences.

Survey information is expected to be requested from insurers between October to December 2024 with survey fieldwork conducted in January to March 2025.