Common Law Rehabilitation and Return to Work Policy

WorkCover Queensland has an obligation under sections 268 and 269 of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2013(the Act), to provide treatment and rehabilitation for return to work.

The aim of this policy is to work in collaboration with workers and stakeholders to deliver durable return to work outcomes for unemployed injured workers who lodge a common law claim.  This policy forms part of WorkCover's return to work program.

The worker is required to indicate in the notice of claim whether assistance with return to work or rehabilitation is required.

If it is indicated that further assistance is required, the worker will be contacted by a WorkCover customer advisor to discuss return to work and rehabilitation options. WorkCover will not discuss any details of the common law claim with the worker.

The worker will not be referred to a return to work program when WorkCover is satisfied that the worker is unable to participate due to the work related injury or another medical reason.

WorkCover encourages the worker's solicitors to discuss requests for any necessary and reasonable treatment and rehabilitation with WorkCover's solicitor. The worker's solicitor is obliged under section 277 of the Act to advise WorkCover's solicitor if the workers employment circumstances change.

A return to work plan will be developed, in conjunction with the worker, taking into account their individual circumstances. The plan may include, so far as is practicable, vocational assessments, reskilling or retraining, job placement, host employment , reasonable funding of appropriate courses, work experience or referral to state or federal government funded, regionally located service providers who specialise in providing support and guidance for unemployed people to return to gainful employment as considered necessary and reasonable by WorkCover.

Any amendments to the plan will be communicated by WorkCover to all relevant parties. The worker's solicitor will be updated and all documents relating to the plan will be disclosed in accordance with WorkCover's disclosure policy.

WorkCover will review the appropriateness of the program during the life of the common law claim. This plan may be amended or stopped due to (but not limited to) worker non-compliance with the plan, updated medical evidence, claim settlement, potential fraud and other claim compliance issues.

A worker referred to a return to work program must satisfactorily participate in the program. What this means will depend on the contents of the plan but may include: active job searching, attending appointments, participating in job preparation, training etc. as arranged and considered reasonable. In our experience, successful outcomes are achieved when the worker is realistic and is actively engaged in finding work.

If the plan is unsuccessful or the worker chooses not to participate, WorkCover will provide the worker with access to information which may assist with future return to work endeavours. WorkCover will also advise our solicitor and the worker's solicitor of the outcome.

This information should be provided with the Notice of Claim for Damages, if it is available.

Costs will be met for any necessary and reasonable services allowed under the Act and approved by WorkCover for the accepted work-related injury or injuries.

The worker's solicitor will be advised of the cost of any return to work program before they are incurred by WorkCover.

In accordance with section 269 of Act, the cost of any return to work program will be taken into account in the assessment of damages.