Assessing return to work policy and practice (ComPARE) project
The COMpensation Policy And Return to work Effectiveness (ComPARE) project aims to develop evidence that can help improve return to work policy and practice in Australia.
Project update
The project has produced a number of findings, including major research reports, presentations and journal articles.
See the latest ComPARE Project reports.
Project overview
The ComPARE project was established at Monash University in 2014 to establish an evidence base that can help develop and implement effective return to work policy in Australia.
The project adopts a comparative effectiveness methodology, comparing return to work outcomes between jurisdictions.
The project aims to identify policies and practices that have positive or negative effects on return to work and income replacement. The project is funded from WorkSafe Victoria through the Institute for Safety Compensation and Recovery Research, as well as Safe Work Australia.
In-kind support is received from the national organisations outlined below, as well as data from the National Data Set from each state and territory.
Project participants
Project lead
- Monash University
Other organisations involved
- ACT Government
- NT WorkSafe
- Office of Industrial Relations, QLD Government
- ReturnToWork SA
- Safe Work Australia
- State Insurance Regulatory Authority of NSW
- WorkCover Tasmania
- WorkCover WA
- WorkSafe Victoria.
Findings and reports
Resources
Why this research is important
This research project is part of our Research Plan Towards 2022 and supports our purpose to foster work participation and recovery.
Finding ways to help injured and ill employees return to work as soon as it is safe to do so, has benefits for both the employee and the employer.
We know good work supports people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing.
We also know that being off work for extended periods can have serious long-term effects including isolation and depression. Experience shows that the longer someone is off work, the less likely they are to return to work.