The following key principles of injury management and return to work offer some good advice for all parties to help the process run smoothly.

1. Within the workers’ compensation system, return to work is the most appropriate outcome. A return to work focus should be maintained whenever it is medically appropriate.

2. Injury management:

(a) provides physical, psychological and vocational benefits to workers;

(b) minimises disruption at the workplace; and

(c) contains workers’ compensation costs.

3. The employer, injured worker and treating medical practitioner are the key parties in injury management. Consultation and communication between the key parties should occur on a regular basis.

4. Timely and appropriate medical treatment should be sought and provided to injured workers.

5. Employers should be directly involved in the management of work injuries and ensure that injury management processes are started early.

6. Vocational rehabilitation is not required for all injured workers but where the key parties agree it is necessary, it should commence as soon as possible, be focused on achieving a return to work outcome and be subject to regular monitoring to ensure it is heading in the right direction.

7. The approved insurer (insurer) should provide effective claims management and active consultation about the direction of the claim with the key parties as required.

8. If an insurer discharges the employer’s return to work obligations by acting on behalf of the employer, the insurer should ensure the employer is involved in all return to work decisions and activities.