Rehabilitation is a crucial part of the return to work process. If there are problems in returning the injured worker to the workplace, external assistance may be needed. This might include difficulty in: identifying duties, determining worker’s capacity, determining other services that will complement rehabilitation and return to work fitness. The nature and seriousness of the worker’s injury may also dictate the type of assistance they need to return to the workplace.

An approved vocational rehabilitation provider may be engaged to deliver an appropriate professional program that meets the needs of the worker and the employer, in consultation with the treating medical practitioner, in a timely and cost effective manner. Situations where an approved vocational rehabilitation provider may provide assistance include:

• The worker is unable to carry out pre-injury duties and there is a need to identify alternative or modified duties with the same or a new employer.
• There is a need to complete a practical assessment of a worker’s capacity to return to work (for example, when there are conflicting opinions of the worker’s physical or psychological capacity to return to work; or there are reports of ongoing symptoms when the worker is at work).
• The injured worker is experiencing problems associated with returning to work (for example, the worker may be anxious about returning to a particular work area or job).
• Modifications are required to the workplace, or aids and equipment are required to assist the worker return to work (for example, this may be required where an injured worker is restricted while recovering from major surgery or there are multiple injuries).
• There is a need to assess the suitability of a return to work program with a new employer if this is identified by the injured worker, employer and treating medical practitioner as the new rehabilitation goal.
• There is a need to determine whether retraining should be provided.