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Directory of Approved Rehabilitation Providers

Monitoring performance

Operating as an approved WRP

Criteria and Operational standards

Under section 34 of the SRC Act Comcare establishes criteria [pdf] and operational standards for rehabilitation providers. These standards are designed to ensure that ARPs deliver high quality services that contribute to successful return to work outcomes.

Approval period

All approved providers are subject to a formal renewal process with Comcare every three years as part of the renewal process. They may also be required to participate in an evaluation during the approval period by Comcare and/or other workers’ compensation authorities where they may also be approved.

The current approval period runs from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2013.

Application Processing fee

Initial approval application fee $2000

Advising Comcare of changes

ARPs are required to advise Comcare of the following:

any change in the identity of the principals of the provider, or employees (see engaging new staff) providing occupational rehabilitation services under the SRC Act
any matter that, if the provider were not already approved, would affect the capacity of the provider to meet the particular criteria for approval as an ARP in force from time to time under s34D of the SRC Act, and
any matter that affects the compliance or the capacity to affect the compliance, of the ARP with the operational standards in force at the time.

Changes to details such as addresses and phone numbers can be emailed to rehab.approval@comcare.gov.au.

Engaging new staff

When a WRP engages new staff to provide return to work program management services under the SRC Act, they must submit to Comcare a request for those staff to be approved as providers for that organisation.

The request comprises of documentary evidence that establishes that new staff comply with criterion 1 of Comcare's criteria for Initial Approval or Renewal of Approval as a Rehabilitation Program Provider (Workplace Rehabilitation Provider).

A new workplace rehabilitation provider consultant approval form must accompany the request and forms are attached documents can be emailed to rehab.approval@comcare.gov.au

Any other changes to staffing must be advised to Comcare within one month.

Consultant ID number

Comcare will issue a consultant ID number to all consultants that have been verified as meeting the required competency criteria. This number is linked to the approved provider organisation in which they work.

A valid consultant ID number allows consultants to deliver rehabilitation program services for an apporved provider, and the ID number should be recorded on all Comcare return to work forms and invoices.

If a consultant gains employment with another approved provider are able to apply for recognition/transfer of their consultant ID number to the new employer using the WRP consultant approval form.

Undertaking the annual self evaluation

As part of the national approval framework all providers are required to undertake an annual self evaluation against the conditions of approval. A copy of the Workplace Rehabilitation Provider evaluation Manual is available from the Heads of Workers’ Compensation Authorities website. This manual details the evaluation process and methodology for undertaking evaluations and is applicable to the provider annual self evaluations, and to evaluations performed by a workers’ compensation authority.

WRP Code of Conduct

All approved providers are required to act in accordance with the Code of Conduct for workplace rehabilitation providers. The code describes the responsibilities and standards of behaviour required of any person or organisation approved as a provider by a workers’ compensation authority. The code is contained in the HWCA Guide- Nationally consistent approval framework for workplace rehabilitation providers.