Return to work program
The best place to recover from a work-related injury or illness is at work. It is good for mental and physical health, and reduces the risk of longer term disability.
A return to work program is the formal policy that outlines your general procedures for handling any work-related injury or illness. It represents your commitment to the health, safety and recovery of workers following an incident.
Your obligations
In NSW, you must have a return to work program within 12 months of starting your business.
Your program must:
- be developed in consultation with your workers and any industrial union representing them
- be consistent with your insurer's injury management plan
- comply with the State Insurance Regulatory Authority’s (SIRA) guidelines for workplace return to work programs
- be accessible and communicated to the workforce.
The SIRA website has detailed information on what is required in a return to work program and how to set one up.
In addition, a suite of 3 video case studies has been developed for employers, showing links between workplace culture and recovery at work outcomes. These videos were created in a joint project between SIRA, SafeWork NSW and employers in the community services sector in NSW: