New Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations

The Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations commences on 18 September 2024.

The Guide is a legislative instrument. Rehabilitation authorities must comply with the Guide when they arrange rehabilitation assessments or require rehabilitation examinations under section 36 of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act). Relevant authorities must comply with the Guide when requiring examinations under section 57 of the SRC Act.

In deciding whether to arrange for an assessment or require an examination, the Guide requires rehabilitation and relevant authorities to:

• consider an employee’s circumstances or any change in those circumstances
• rely as much as possible on relevant information from an injured employee’s treating practitioner
• seek and take into account the employee’s views about the selection of the person(s) to conduct the rehabilitation or medical examination.

The Guide limits the frequency of rehabilitation and medical examinations to 6-month intervals, except in specified circumstances.

To give rehabilitation and relevant authorities time to understand and apply the Guide, the Guide has an application date of 30 October 2024. This means any rehabilitation assessments, rehabilitation examinations or medical examinations determined under sections 36(1), 36(3) or 57(1) of the SRC Act from 30 October 2024 must comply with the Guide.

Comcare has prepared additional information about the Guide to assist rehabilitation authorities, rehabilitation case managers, claims managers, relevant authorities and employees with its commencement.

Comcare will also be hosting information sessions on the implementation of the Guide.

Read the Guide and Explanatory Statement

• Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations 2024
• Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations 2024 Explanatory Statement

Information about the Guide

For rehabilitation authorities and relevant authorities

• Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations 2024 – An overview for rehabilitation case managers (PDF, 131.5 KB)
• Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations 2024 – An overview for claims managers (PDF, 143.3 KB)

For employees

• Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations 2024 – An overview for employees about independent medical examinations (PDF, 132.2 KB)
• Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations 2024 – An overview for employees about rehabilitation assessments (PDF, 134.2 KB)