Returning to Work following a Workers Compensation Claim

Please note, the information provided here is intended as a guide only for claims under the Tasmanian Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme and is not to be used as legal advice. For further and more detailed information, specific legal advice or assistance about your matter, please contact us.

What happens when I am ready to return to work?
If you have had to take time off work as a result of an injury at work, the workers compensation system is designed to assist you in returning to work as soon as possible. Evidence shows that the sooner you are able to return to work, the better chance you have of a good outcome generally from the workers compensation process.

Ideally, the aim of the Tasmanian Workers Compensation system is to return you to your job, with your employer.

Your primary treating medical practitioner (GP) determines whether you are fit for work based on your medical condition.

Your Role
You should be an active participant in the return to work process.

It is important to assist your GP by identifying duties that you think you can do, even if they are less demanding than or different to your normal duties. A gradual return to work is better than no return to work for your long term health.

Be in contact with your employer about the progress of injury and work with them to identify jobs at work you think you can do within any restrictions that you have. Or, if this is not possible, work with your employer to try and modify tasks so that you can do some duties.

You should comply with medical restrictions placed on you by your GP.

Return to Work and Injury Management Plans
For injured workers who are likely to be incapacitated for 5 days or more, a Return to Work Plan must be completed, in order to assist your re-introduction into the workplace. A Return to Work Plan is a simple plan for co-ordinating and managing treatment, rehabilitation and return to work.

For injured workers who are likely to be incapacitated for more than 28 days, a more complex plan called an Injury Management Plan is developed.

Such plans should be developed, as far as possible, in consultation with: