Approved workplace rehabilitation providers are organisations approved by WorkCover to offer specialised workplace rehabilitation services to help injured workers to return to work. They have the qualifications, experience and expertise appropriate to provide services in accordance with the following definition based on the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) (1995) definition:

"Workplace rehabilitation is a managed process involving early intervention with appropriate, adequate and timely services based on assessed need, and which is aimed at maintaining injured or ill employees in, or returning them to, suitable employment."

Responsibilities

Workplace rehabilitation service provision is largely delivered at the workplace by:

• identifying and designing suitable duties for the worker to assist the employer to meet their obligations in providing suitable employment
• identifying and coordinating rehabilitation strategies that ensure the worker is able to safely perform their duties
• promoting an early return to work of the worker
• forging the link between the insurer, employer and treatment providers to ensure integration of all injury management activities and a focus on return to work
• arranging appropriate retraining and placement in alternative employment when the worker is unable to return to pre-injury duties
• ensuring all aspects that have an impact on the worker returning to work are considered.

Employers, insurers or doctors may recommend an approved workplace rehabilitation provider to help in complex cases. However the insurer engages the workplace rehabilitation provider and pays for their services. The cost of workplace rehabilitation services is recorded as a claims cost. 

www.workcover.nsw.gov.au

Last updated on April 4, 2011 by Galen & Gray