Your role

Rehabilitation case managers

For: Claimants Employers and managers Service providers Advocates Information seekers

The employer plays a critical role in helping to reduce the impact of injury and illness in the workplace.

Rehabilitation case managers, also known as RCMs, coordinate and manage the rehabilitation and return to work of employees with an injury or illness, on behalf of the employer.

The role explained

Rehabilitation case managers:

help to plan, organise, coordinate, monitor and evaluate services and resources for employees with an injury or illness.
actively manage the rehabilitation process to achieve return to work outcomes.

The rehabilitation authority, who in most cases is the current employer, is responsible for assigning a rehabilitation case manager to an injured employee. In many workplaces, this happens at the time an employee makes a claim for workers' compensation.

Any employee may be delegated to the role of rehabilitation case manager, under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act).

In some circumstances, the employer may engage an external case manager to work with the employee throughout their rehabilitation.

Responsibilities of rehabilitation case managers

Responsibilities of a rehabilitation case manager can include to:

initiate, co-ordinate and monitor an injured or ill employee’s workplace rehabilitation program
connect and coordinate people involved in the return to work process
promote the health benefits of good work, early intervention and the organisation’s return to work approach
encourage the organisation to commit to rehabilitation
facilitate early intervention
help employers to provide suitable employment for an injured or ill employee
engage, where appropriate, and manage workplace rehabilitation providers
co-ordinate the employer's responses to requests for information about the employee, their injury or illness, and their rehabilitation
maintain appropriate records and ensure relevant worker’s compensation forms are completed
ensure the employer complies with the Guidelines for Rehabilitation Authorities Instrument 2019 (PDF, 247.1 KB)
ensure the employer complies with the Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations 2024.

Guidance for rehabilitation case managers

Core capabilities

Rehabilitation case manager core capabilities (PDF, 602.9 KB) – defines the capabilities required of an effective rehabilitation case manager and provides resources.

Handbook

Rehabilitation Case Manager handbook (PDF, 1.8 MB) – requirements and better practice guidance for rehabilitation and return to work in the Comcare scheme.

Return to work guides and resources

Return to work videos and factsheets

As a rehabilitation case manager, you have an important role to support employees with an injury or illness to safely recover and return to work.

These videos provide information on the return to work process for employees and for employers.

The employee videos explain the importance of a safe, timely and lasting return to work, the role of the employer and other support people in their recovery and include tips to help employees recover and return to work.

The employer video explains the benefits of supporting employees to safely return to work, the importance of responding early to injuries and illness, employer responsibilities and how to effectively lead your organisation's return to work approach.

We encourage you to refer employees, supervisors, senior managers and other stakeholders to these videos.