Table 6.1: Sections of workers’ compensation legislation and guidance material relating to return to work | Safe Work Australia

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	Sections of workers’ compensation legislation referring to return to work	Names and links to guidance material on return to work
NSW	s57- Worker to notify return to work etc with other employer Workers Compensation Act 1987 (‘the 1987 Act’). Chapter 3, Workplace injury management Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (‘the 1998 Act’), Workers’ Compensation Regulation 2016 Part 5- Return to work assistance Part 6- Return-to-work programs under the 1998 Act Part 7- Approval of workplace rehabilitation providers	The Guidelines for workplace return to work programs (guidelines) outline employer obligations for handling work related injury and illness. These guidelines took effect on the 1st of March 2021. All employers in NSW must comply with these guidelines, which are issued and enforced by the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), under s 52 of the 1998 Act. SIRA also provides guidance material, information and resources on return to work including: return to work coordination eLearning workplace rehabilitation vocational rehabilitation programs funded by SIRA for workers and employers Have you been injured at work tool Small business assist tool When a worker is injured: a workers compensation guide for employer Benefits of working while you recover
Vic	Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 s17 — Employer to keep register of injuries. Part 4 — Return to Work Division 1 — Preliminary s96 — Definitions s97 — Purpose s98 — Application of Part s99 — Obligations of employers and workers s100 — Part does not derogate from other provisions in Act s101 — Application of part Division 2 — Obligations of employers s102 — Flow chart 4 — return to work obligations of employers s103 — Provide employment s104 — Plan Return to Work s105 — Consult about Return to Work s106 — Return to Work Coordinator to be nominated s107 — Make return to work information available s108 — Employer to notify Authority of return to work of worker s109 — Host to cooperate with labour hire employer Division 3 — Obligation for workers s110 — Flow chart 5 — return to work obligations of workers s111 — Participate in planning for return to work s112 — Use occupational rehabilitation services s113 — Participate in assessments s114 — Return to work s115 — Participate in an interview Division 4 — Termination of compensation s116 — Failure to comply with Division 3 s117 — Notification of return to work Division 5 — General Provisions s118 — Resolution of return to work issues s119 — Information about the employer obligation period s120 — Authority may be given s121 — Compliance Codes s122 — Disallowance of certain compliance code orders s123 — Effect of Compliance Code s124 — Effect of compliance with compliance codes s125 — Functions of Authority in respect of compliance codes Division 6 — Return to Work Inspectorate s126 – Appointments of inspectors s127 – Identify cards Division 7 — Functions and powers of inspectors (s128 to s145) s128 – Interpretation s129 – Inspectors subject to Authority’s direction s130 – Power to enter s131 – Announcement on entry s132 – Report to be given about entry s133 – General powers on entry s134 – Power to require production of documents and answers to questions s135 – Return of seized things s136 – Power to issue Return to Work improvement notice s137 – Directions or conditions in a Return to Work improvement notice s138 - Variation or cancellation of Return to Work improvement notice s139 – Issue of Return to Work Improvement notice s140 – Formal irregularity or defect in Return to Work improvement notice s141 – Proceedings for offence not affected by Return to Work Improvement notice s142 – Persons must assist inspector s143 - Other assistance in exercising powers s144 – Inspector may take affidavits and statutory declarations s145- Inspector may copy documents Division 8 — Offences (s146 to s148) s146 – Offences in relation to inspections s147 – Protection of inspectors s148 – Offence to impersonate inspector Division 9 — Review of decisions (s149)s149 – Which decisions are reviewable s150 – Internal review s151 – Review by VCAT s222 – Authority or self-insurer may pay for rehabilitation service s224 – Liability of Authority and self-insurer s230 – Occupational rehabilitation services s575 – Offence to engage in discriminatory conduct s609 – Directions given by the Minister s610 – Directions given for the purposes of Part 4	Labour hire: return to work Return to work coordination: The basics you need to know Returning to work: A guide for injured workers Steps to resolving return to work issues What to do if a worker is injured: A guide for employers Suitable employment for injured employees: As step-by-step guide to assessing suitable employment solutions Return to work coordinators: Information for employers Return to work compliance codes explained Compliance code 1 of 4: Providing employment, planning and consultation about return to work Compliance code 2 of 4: Return to work coordinators Compliance code 3 of 4: Return to work information Compliance code 4 of 4: Cooperating with labour hire employees about return to work Return to work: A guide to help you start the conversation with your injured worker Information for employers: Return to work obligations Guide for injured workers – Planning your return to work Guide for injured workers – Return to work obligations for workers Guide for injured workers – Return to work Case Conferencing (PDF) Guide for injured workers – Returning with limited capacity or ability Guide for injured workers – 10 Tips to help you get back to work Guide for employers – A practical guide to return to work for employers Guide for employers – Legal obligations during return to work Guide for employers – Helping your employee return to work Guide for employers – Planning your worker’s return to work Guide for employers – Return to work arrangements (Including proposed suitable or pre-injury employment) Guide for employer – Return to work information template Guide for employers – Return to work coordinator information for employers Guides for employers – Suitable employment for injured employees Guide for Return to Work Coordinators – Return to work coordination: The basics you need to know Guide for Return to Work Coordinators – Solve common return to work problems Guide for Return to Work Coordinators – What to do after you’ve been appointed as return to work coordinator Guide for Return to Work Coordinator – WorkSafe Approved Training Worker and employer support programs – Facilitated Discussion Worker and employer support programs – Job seeking service for workers Worker and employer supports - Mobile case management Worker and employer supports – New Employer Services (NES) for workers Worker and employer supports – Original employer services (OES) Helping injured workers get back to work Worker and employer supports – Responding to potential secondary mental injury WorkSafe Incentive Scheme for Employers (WISE) Claims Manual – Return to Work
Qld	Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 s220 — Insurer’s responsibility for rehabilitation s228 — Employer’s obligation to assist or provide rehabilitation. S229A – Obligation of person to whom labour hire worker supplied. Reg s150 Standard for rehabilitation	Guidelines for Standard for Rehabilitation Benefits of early return to work Roles and responsibilities Rehabilitation and return to work plan Suitable duties Return to work barriers Recover at Work program Finding an alternative role Template Workplace Rehabilitation Policy and Procedures
WA	Definition s5 – Definition of Return to work and return to work program Employers s160 – Duty of employer to establish and implement return to work program s161 – Employer may be ordered to establish and implement return to work program s166 – Employer must provide position during incapacity s167 – Host must cooperate with labour hirer Workers s163 – Duties of worker (relating to return to work) s164 – Consequences of refusal or failure to comply with s163 duty \|s165 – Attendance at return to work case conference Insurers s162 – Duties of insurer (relating to return to work) Reducing Compensation s63 - Reducing or discontinuing income compensation on basis of worker’s return to work	Publications: Injury Management: A Guide for Employers Return to Work Program Explanatory Notes Return to Work Employer Obligations Fact Sheet Return to Work Worker Obligations Fact Sheet Template Return to Work Program WorkCover WA Workplace Rehabilitation Providers Principles and Standards of Practice HWCA Principles of Practice for Workplace Rehabilitation Providers Website info: Returning to work: Workers Returning to work: Employers List of approved workplace rehabilitation provider Video resources: Return to work Return to work – a guide for employers
SA	Return to Work Act 2014 s3 — Objects of the Act s13(2)(a) — The Corporation s15(3) — Workers s17(2) — Employers s18 — Employer’s duty to provide work ss 23 and 24 — Early intervention, recovery and return to work services s25 — Recovery/return to work plans s26 — Return to work co-ordinators s43 — Return to work obligations of worker s52 — Reports of return to work etc Return to Work Regulations 2015 Part 3 — Recovery and Return to Work	Recovery/return to work plan Return to work coordinators
Tas	Part XI of the Workers’ Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 deals with injury management	Getting back to work after an injury Getting your worker back to work The benefits of returning to work Injury Management: Making it work Preparing Return to Work Plans Preparing Injury Management Plans Guideline for preparing return to work plans and injury management plans The Role of the Primary Treating Medical Practitioner See also workers compensation forms and guides.
ACT	Chapter 5 of the Workers’ Compensation Act 1951	Injured Worker Entitlements Injury management and rehabilitation Rehabilitation provider approval Return to work coordinators Who is an employer, and the employer's obligations
NT	s2 — Objects of the Act s3 — rehabilitation, in relation to an injured worker, means a process designed to ensure the worker’s return to work as soon as practicable s50 — Accredited vocational rehabilitation providers s75A — Employer to assist injured worker to find suitable employment s75B — Worker to undertake reasonable treatment and training, or assessment s76 — Rehabilitation training and workplace modification s78B — Lump sum agreement for particular period s90 — Return to work	Publications: Employers guide to workers compensation Workers guide to workers compensation Videos: Returning to work – guide for workers – video Returning to work – guide for employers – video Role of a rehabilitation provider - video Website info: Returning to work: Employers Returning to work: Workers Return to work plan
Comcare	Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 — Part III s34A–34S — Approved rehabilitation program providers Division 3: s36 Assessment of capability of undertaking rehabilitation program s37 Provision of rehabilitation programs s38 Review of certain determinations by Comcare s39 Compensation payable in respect of certain alterations etc. s40 Duty to provide suitable employment s41 Rehabilitation authorities to comply with guidelines s41A Delegation by rehabilitation authority	Rehabilitation case manager core capabilities Guidelines for Rehabilitation Authorities (2019) Rehabilitation case manager handbook Getting you back to work
Seacare	Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992 — Part 3 s48 Approved rehabilitation program providers s49 Assessment of capability of undertaking rehabilitation programs s50 Provision of rehabilitation programs s51 Compensation payable in respect to certain alterations, etc s52 Duty to provide suitable employment	A best practice guide Seafarers Rehabilitation and Return to Work
DVA	Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 — Chapter 3 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 — Part III	Rehabilitation services in DVA
NZ	Accident Compensation Act 2001 — ss70–113	N/A