Comcare - Australian Goverment
Comcare - Australian Goverment
Putting you first at the centre of what we do. Keeping you healthy and safe at work. Supporting you when you are harmed at work. Ensuring your scheme works and is sustainable.
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Return to work plan

A rehabilitation (or return to work) program is based on the principle that the employer can enable a coordinated return to work.

The program is delivered consistent with medical advice and where necessary the use of a rehabilitation provider.

Rehabilitation aims to:

  • maintain the injured employee within the workplace, or
  • return them to appropriate employment in a timely, safe and cost efficient manner

A return to work plan as part of a rehabilitation program should:

  • be developed in consultation with the injured employee and the treating medical practitioner
  • be individualised, outcome-based and set out the steps to be followed in achieving the return to work
  • be available to an employee with a work capacity (unless contraindicated, for example where the employee has retired)
  • be developed using appropriate expertise, such as approved rehabilitation providers, where required
  • recognise the existing skills, experience and capabilities of the injured employee to enable suitable duties to be found
  • if necessary, utilise retraining and redeployment when it is not possible for the employee to return to pre-injury duties.