There are a number of people involved in helping you return to work after you have been injured in the workplace. These include your employer and the doctor who is treating you. You are able to choose your own doctor to treat you when you have experienced a workplace injury. Click here for further information about injury management.

Injury management is about managing workers’ injuries in a manner that is directed at enabling injured workers to return to work. Your employer should have a written description of an injury management system in your workplace and this should be made available to you if you ask for it. You should be involved with decisions regarding your return to work.

It is important for you to keep in touch with your employer, your doctor and other treatment providers. You should submit medical certificates to your employer as soon as possible and on a regular basis to help keep your employer informed of your medical condition and level of fitness for work. If your treating medical practitioner finds that you are partially fit to return to work in some capacity, a written return to work program will be established by your employer.

Workers are strongly encouraged to fully participate with their employer and medical practitioner in developing an appropriate return to work program. This will help develop a supportive environment that has the commitment of all parties to a successful return to work process. Make sure you have a say in determining your future at work by being involved in discussions that affect you.

Have input into:

• developing alternate or different duties that are meaningful to both you and your employer;
• modifying existing duties; or
• obtaining different equipment to help you undertake these duties

The return to work program should include:

• Your doctor's name and your name (injured worker);
• A description of the goal of the return to work program;
• The actions to be taken and who is to take them; and
• A statement as to whether or not you agree to the program.

Any changes to your return to work program as a result of advice from your treating doctor must be made with your agreement and in writing. Your employer must give you and the treating doctor a copy of the program and any changes made to the program.

The doctor treating your injury may recommend using a vocational rehabilitation service in some cases. This service may help you return to work sooner. You are able to choose your own rehabilitation provider, so talk to your doctor about this if you have a preference.

For a list of Approved Vocational Rehabilitation Providers, click here.

If you reach a partial or total capacity for work within 12 months of becoming entitled to weekly payments of compensation, your employer must make the position you held immediately before the injury available, if it is reasonable to do so. If that job is not available, or you can no longer perform the role, a similar position must be provided for which you are qualified and capable and that is comparable in both status and pay to your pre-injury work.