To develop a better understanding of why injured workers did or did not return to work within Western Australia, the WorkCover WA Board determined in mid 2006 that an investigation into return to work issues should be undertaken.

Simultaneously, the Board also approved the establishment of a project to better understand the general experiences of injured workers on workers’ compensation.

A Western Australian specific community based survey was subsequently developed in consultation with key stakeholder groups in the Western Australian workers’ compensation system and distributed to over 41,000 workers injured at work during the 2005/06 financial year.

The Have Your Say Survey is the first of its kind and is believed to be the single most comprehensive data collection strategy ever to be adopted by a workers’ compensation jurisdiction. Information in relation to six key areas was collected:

• making a claim
• assistance received
• returning to work
• workplace culture
• experience with WorkCover WA, and
• the respondent