What is a host suitable duties program?

A host suitable duties program is a graduated work program that helps workers to improve their work fitness. They are run in a similar manner to a suitable duties program, except that different arrangements are made to manage the role of the host employer, the worker must attend a different place of employment for a set period, and WorkCover Queensland has to provide a suitable temporary place of employment for the injured worker.

A WorkCover Queensland customer advisor will oversee the host suitable duties program. The customer advisor is the main point of contact for all parties, liaising with the host employer, the worker’s original employer, treating doctor and other health providers.

A health provider will visit the worksite with the worker to develop the program so that it matches the person’s abilities with appropriate job tasks and working hours. These tasks and hours are often increased during the program as the worker recovers.

A suitable duties program can be stopped at any time by the:

• host employer
• treating doctor
• WorkCover Queensland customer advisor.

What is a host employer?

A ‘host employer’ is an employer who agrees to have an injured worker at their workplace when the worker is unable to participate in rehabilitation with their original employer. WorkCover pays the worker's wages when they participate in a host suitable duties program with a host employer. These programs normally run for three to six weeks. A host employer does not have to employ a person after their program has ended.

How host suitable duties programs are developed

An injured worker's customer advisor, rehabilitation coordinator (or employer) and treating doctor develop a host suitable duties program taking into consideration:

• their condition and stage of recovery
• their pre-injury employment and tasks they are now capable of doing
• their relevant medical information
• the workplace assessment completed by a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, or other health provider
• the host employer's workplace rehabilitation policy and procedures
• the worker's age, education, skills, and work experience
• advice from a physiotherapist, occupation therapist, or other health provider..

Can a host employer offer paid employment to a worker on completion of the host employment placement?

Yes. However, a host employer is not obliged to employ the person after their program has ended. Having had the advantage of trialling and training the worker through the host employment placement, some employers are prepared to offer employment to the worker.

In other cases where the pre-injury position is still available, the worker may return to work with the original employer on completion of the host employment placement.

Does WorkCover Queensland provide any incentive for host employers to offer employment?

Yes. We can offer the ‘six-month exemption’ to host employers who provide paid employment following a successful host employment placement. To be eligible the host employer must:

• not be the worker’s previous employer
• have provided a host employment placement in the job which is to be offered.

If a host employer offers paid employment, they must notify us immediately.

The six-month exemption policy indemnifies a new employer against costs of a work-related aggravation of the original injury and covers aggravations occurring up to six months from the commencement of employment.

What is the claim process if the worker aggravates the accepted injury?
If the worker is injured during the first six months of employment, the worker and the new employer complete and send us an Application for Compensation together with a copy of the six-month exemption approval letter.

On receiving the application, we will determine whether the claim is either a continuation (re-opening) of the previous claim or a new claim. We will then determine whether the injury is an aggravation of the worker’s previous injury or a different injury altogether. If it is determined to be a different injury, a new claim will be registered against the new employer’s policy. If it is determined to be an aggravation of the previous injury, the claim costs will not affect the new employer’s premium.

If you would like more information, see our host suitable duties program fact sheet or call us on 1300 362 128.