Return To Work Matters

Most measures indicate declining return to work performance in Australia. Despite many initiatives from various organisations, overall durable return to work performance is trending down.

“Workers’ comp harmonisation as it has been discussed won’t improve health or return to work outcomes,” says Occupational Physician, Chair of Resworks and Editor of Return to Work Matters Dr Mary Wyatt.

WorkCoverSA has had an increase in RTW rates since 2007 and are now closer to the national average. This correlates directly with a decrease in the number of injured workers reporting that someone in the workplace made their return to work harder.

Comcare continues to perform above the national average for many measures, including RTW rates and RTW planning. However, there are also indications that some of Comcare’s achievements may be occurring at the expense of employee-centred care.

Last year 28% of injured workers surveyed throughout Australia and New Zealand were not in paid employment 6 months after lodging a workers' compensation claim. With the worst return to work rates in ten years, why isn't key data accessible?

As Australia gears up to harmonise its eleven different sets of workers’ compensation and return to work legislation, a message from a visiting US expert is a welcome one.

Proposed reforms to the Accident Compensation Act have been criticised by most stakeholder groups but Dr Mary Wyatt – believes there is an opportunity to reduce compensation costs and improve health outcomes by focusing on the human face of return

Return to Work Matters talks about injured employees' believing their employer can often hinder their return to work by not helping them return or not having policies and procedures in place.

The falling value of superannuation is causing ageing workers to consider delaying retirement. Return To Work Matters talks about tactics employers can use to improve health outcomes and maintain productivity levels.

Return to Work Matters,” an online resource and network for return to work professionals, examines difficulties that injured employees face when returning back to the work force.