Rehabilitation

Under workers’ compensation legislation, the purpose of rehabilitation is to ensure the worker's earliest possible return-to-work or to maximise the worker's independent functioning. Under legislation, workers and employers must take every reasonable step to participate in rehabilitation and return-to-work programs.

Rehabilitation for return-to-work (sometimes called occupational, vocational or workplace rehabilitation) can include treatment, assessments of work capacity and suitable duties programs. For example, a person’s rehabilitation program could include a combination of the following:

• physiotherapy
• occupational therapy
• psychological counselling
• suitable duties program (at the workplace)
• on-the-job training for new skills
• special assistance for workers with serious injuries.

Rehabilitation has many benefits for injured workers and employers and is a joint effort involving workers, employers, doctors and health providers and WorkCover Queensland. How long rehabilitation takes is different for each injury and each person, however the majority of workers who participate in rehabilitation programs are able to return to work with their employer at the end of the program. If a worker is unable to return to their job because of their work injury WorkCover will discuss options with them and their employer.

WorkCover is committed to working closely with health providers and helping workers and employers throughout the rehabilitation process. For more information on rehabilitation visit the following areas of the website or phone WorkCover on 1300 362 128 to speak with an appropriate WorkCover contact.

Benefits of rehabilitation

Employers, injured workers, treating doctors, and other health providers all benefit from being committed to rehabilitation. An injured worker's benefits from participating in rehabilitation activities through:

• returning to work quickly and safely
• minimising disruption to their family, work and social life
• alleviating concerns regarding employment and financial security
• decreasing the time spent recovering from injury
• reducing the level of injury impairment.

Employers also achieve better outcomes by being involved in rehabilitation. The disruption caused by having an employee absent or unable to perform set duties can impact on a workplace’s productivity. Employer participation in rehabilitation (either through a rehabilitation return to work coordinator or another person) can:

• reduce staff turnover
• improve staff morale and workplace industrial relations
• minimise retraining expenses
• reduce claims costs
• help an injured worker's return to the workplace.

WorkCover Queensland encourages all persons involved in the rehabilitation process to work together to ensure the treatment benefits both an injured worker's health and an employer’s workplace.