Guidance for prospective Approved Rehabilitation Providers
If you are considering applying to become a Comcare Approved Rehabilitation Provider (ARP) please read the guidance material below.
Who is covered?
The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act) provides workers' compensation coverage for all employees in the Commonwealth jurisdiction. This includes employees of Australian Government departments and agencies, employees of self-insurers and members of the Australian Defence Force.
Approval also allows rehabilitation providers to deliver rehabilitation programs to the maritime industry under the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992 (Seafarers Act) and the Australian Defence Force under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA Act).
Employers responsible for rehabilitation
As part of a comprehensive approach to workers' compensation, the SRC Act requires employers to take responsibility for the appropriate rehabilitation of their employees following a work-related injury.
Employers may seek assistance from a rehabilitation provider to facilitate an early, safe and durable return to work. To assist employers, the SRC Act provides for the approval of appropriately qualified professionals as rehabilitation providers.
Information on the workers' compensation schemes established under the:
- Seafarers Act and regulated by Seacare can be found at www.seacare.gov.au, or
- Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act and regulated by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs can be found at www.mrcs.gov.au.
Requirements for approval as a rehabilitation provider
Rehabilitation providers are assessed against prescribed criteria and standards. These criteria [pdf] and standards are designed to ensure that rehabilitation providers approved under the SRC Act provide high quality services and can successfully manage return to work outcomes for the scheme.
Applicants for approval as a rehabilitation provider should review the criteria and standards and consider their capacity to meet these requirements. Applicants must ensure that the criteria are met and operational standards are maintained by all staff in the organisation working in a capacity under the SRC Act.
The SRC Act may vary in operation from what you may already be working under if you are approved under other state legislations. If you have any questions about operating under the SRC Act as an approved rehabilitation provider, please contact Gillian Clarke on 1300 366 979.
It is important that you review the topic covering conflict of interest in the rehabilitation provider role. The advice clarifies the role and the distinction made between rehabilitation and treatment services. Prospective providers should carefully consider this advice and their business objectives before lodging an application.
Fee
An application for approval must be accompanied by the prescribed fee of $2000. (this fee is non-refundable).
Application for approval
If you wish to make an application to become an approved rehabilitation provider you need to complete the application form. Please identify any staff who will be working under the SRC Act and demonstrate how they meet the criteria for approval. If the organisation is proposing to provide services in more than one state please identify staff by state.
Where all relevant information is provided with the application Comcare will endeavour to make a decision on approval within 8 weeks from receipt of the application. However applicants should note that the SRC Act provides a maximum period of six months from date of receipt for Comcare to process the application.
Rehabilitation Provider Approval
Subject to the provider’s ongoing compliance with the criteria and standards and any other condition to which the approval is subject, successful applicants will be approved until 30 June 2013. The provider will then be invited to renew their approval for the next approval period. Advice on the assessment requirements for renewal of approval will be given to successful providers at the time of approval.
Comcare rehabilitation provider training
All staff who have been nominated to deliver rehabilitation programs are required to attend training. The training provides an orientation for working in the Commonwealth workers' compensation environment and should be undertaken within three months following approval.
Associated information
Please read all of these documents before submitting an application.
- Criteria for Approval or Renewal of Approved Persons as Rehabilitation Providers [pdf]- What you will be assessed against initially and on an ongoing basis.
- Operational Standards for Rehabilitation Providers - Standards you are required to meet continuously.
- Conflict of interest [pdf] - Policy advice about avoiding a conflict of interest situation.
- Rehabilitation employer guidelines (Pub 19) - An important guideline issued to employers, and will help you understand employer requirements under the SRC Act.
- Return to work - Easy reference guide (Pub 22) - Outlines the steps in the return to work process and the role we all play in working together to achieve a successful return to work.