Comcare - Australian Goverment
Comcare - Australian GovermentComcare - Australian Goverment

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.