Return to work process for claimants

Step 1 – Notifying your supervisor

You should notify your supervisor as soon as you have an accident, sustain an injury or contract an illness – whether you intend to make a workers’ compensation claim or not.

Your supervisor discusses your immediate needs with you and takes steps to prevent further injury or illness.

Step 2 – Contact with a rehabilitation case manager

Once your supervisor has been made aware of your injury or illness, they should notify a rehabilitation case manager within your organisation.

The rehabilitation case manager should contact you to discuss:

• your injury
• your return to work needs and any reasonable adjustments that can be made
• any potential barriers to your recovery and return to work.

Step 3 – Assessing your need for rehabilitation services

Your rehabilitation case manager decides whether you need an assessment for a rehabilitation program.

You may not need a rehabilitation assessment if:

• you only have minor restrictions, or
• your medical practitioner certifies you fit to stay at or to return to work, or
• there is sufficient information from your treating practitioner so that an assessment is not required.

If you ask for a rehabilitation assessment, your rehabilitation case manager must organise one for you.

Step 4 – Rehabilitation assessment

If you need a rehabilitation assessment, or you have requested one, your rehabilitation case manager will first seek information from your treating practitioner. They must rely on that information before arranging a rehabilitation assessment. If your case manager still needs more information, they may decide to arrange for you to undergo a rehabilitation assessment with an examination. They will consult with you on the selection of the assessor(s), whether you require a support person to attend the assessment and any other matter you feel is relevant relating to the assessment.

The assessor may be a:

• medical practitioner
• suitably qualified person, such as a workplace rehabilitation provider, or
• panel of people.

Your rehabilitation case manager provides the assessor with information about your circumstances. This may include:

• medical reports
• details of your pre-injury employment
• a schedule of questions to be answered.

If you have been asked to attend a rehabilitation examination, you must do so, unless you have a reasonable excuse for being unable to attend.

For more information about rehabilitation assessments see our factsheet Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations 2024 – An overview for employees about rehabilitation assessments (PDF, 134.2 KB)

Outcome of a rehabilitation assessment

A rehabilitation assessment provides information about:

• your injury
• your fitness to remain at or return to work
• recommendations to support a safe and early return to work, including any reasonable adjustments.

Following the assessment, a report is provided to you rehabilitation case manager. The report must be provided to you (or your representative) and you must be advised of the findings of the report and the next steps in your rehabilitation.

Step 5 – Return to work planning

Your rehabilitation case manager decides whether you need a rehabilitation program to help your recovery and return to work. A rehabilitation program outlines the support and services you need to return to work safely and quickly.

A rehabilitation program is usually coordinated by your rehabilitation case manager or a workplace rehabilitation provider.

Your employer must take all reasonable steps to provide suitable employment for you. Reasonable adjustments are also considered to provide support for your recovery and return to work.

You must be consulted on the rehabilitation program. Actively engaging in your program gives you the best opportunity to recover and return to work.

Step 6 – Monitoring your progress

You, the rehabilitation case manager, your treating medical practitioner and workplace rehabilitation provider (if one has been engaged) monitor and review the rehabilitation program and how you are progressing.

You should discuss any concerns about your progress, or the services provided by your workplace rehabilitation provider, with your rehabilitation case manager in the first instance. You can also raise any concerns with your workplace rehabilitation provider directly to Comcare by emailing wrp.management@comcare.gov.au or calling us on 1300 366 979.

Your supervisor is responsible for providing support to implement the program and for providing feedback to you rehabilitation case manager.

Step 7 – Closing the rehabilitation program

When all the objectives of your rehabilitation program have been achieved, or current rehabilitation goals are no longer achievable and a new rehabilitation program is needed, the program is closed.

Closing a rehabilitation program does not stop rehabilitation services being provided in the future if your circumstances change.