What is Occupational Rehabilitation? The University's Commitments to the Rehabilitation/Return to Work of Injured Workers Procedures for the Return to Work of employees with work related injuries Follow-up after injury/illness Finding suitable duties Involving a Rehabilitation Provider Consultation Disputes

What is Occupational Rehabilitation?

Occupational rehabilitation aims to provide an early and safe return to work for employees who have experienced a work related injury or illness by using the workplace itself as a vital part of the rehabilitation process. (adapted from Combrook Publication)

The University's Commitments to the Rehabilitation/Return to Work of Injured Workers

Occupational Health and Safety Commitments

To prevent injury and illness by providing a safe and healthy working environment.(see OHS Policy)

Occupational Rehabilitation Commitments

To manage the process of rehabilitation/return to work in the workplace, consistent with the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998, to ensure that all injured workers have the opportunity to recover and return to work by:

• Ensuring that the occupational rehabilitation process is commenced as soon as possible after an injury or illness, in accordance with medical advice;
• Ensuring that a return to work as soon as possible is a normal practice and expectation;
• Consulting with workers (and where applicable any industrial union representing them) to ensure that participating in the return to work program does not expose the worker to any additional risks;
• Informing workers of their rights in relation to workers compensation, including the choice of doctor and accredited rehabilitation provider.
• Providing access to Interpreter services.
• Ensuring that there is no dismissal within six months of the injury, solely or principally because of that injury, unless medically determined to be permanently unfit to return to that job.
• Ensuring that participation in a return to work plan is in a management and peer environment which is supportive to the individuals and the process.
• The University's committment to ensuring that the Injury Management Coordinator is appropriately trained and accredited with WorkCover NSW.

Confidentiality

The confidentiality of rehabilitation/return to work records shall be strictly maintained, in accordance with the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998.

Procedures for the Return to Work of employees with work related injuries

For the purpose of this Program the legislation requires that a significant injury be reported to the insurer within 48 hours. A significant injury is a workplace injury that is likely to result in a person being either totally or partially incapacitated for a continuous period of more than 7 days.

• It is the employees responsibility to immediately report full details of any work related injury or illness to the relevant Supervisor or Head of Department/School/Division/College (or as soon as possible after the injury/illness has occurred)
• The University will ensure that appropriate first aid and/or medical treatment is administered as soon as possible after any work related injury/illness occurs.
• The University of New England Injury/ Illness/ Incident Report form is to be completed by both Staff member and their Supervisor or Head of Department/School/Division/College and forwarded to the Risk Management Unit, Personnel Services within 24 hours.
• In the case of a significant injury (see definition above) a verbal report must be made to the Risk Management Unit, Personnel Services, within 24 hours of the injury/illness occurring.

Follow-up after injury/illness

The Injury Management Coordinator will ensure that the employee receives appropriate and timely rehabilitation/return to work assistance. A case file will be maintained and confidentiality will be protected.

Employees will be informed of their rights and responsibilities and of the University's policies on injury management and the return to work program when a rehabilitation/return to work case commences.

Finding suitable duties

• When the injured/ill worker is, according to medical judgment, well enough to return to work on suitable duties the University, as far as practicable, will provide suitable duties/employment. Suitable duties/employment shall be approved by the treating doctor or by the accredited rehabilitation provider in consultation with the treating doctor. An individual return to work plan will be developed.
• Assistance, consistent with the legislation, will be given to employees permanently unable to return to pre injury duties.

Involving a Rehabilitation Provider

Accredited rehabilitation providers are available to assist in the rehabilitation/return to work of staff who require specialised or more comprehensive assistance. These include Combrook, Northern Rehabilitation Management and CRS Australia. Injured staff members retain the right to nominate an accredited provider of their own choice.

For more information contact the Risk Management Unit.

Consultation

Consultation, on the review and amendment of this program, will be effected through the Occupational Health and Safety Committee and the relevant industrial associations.

Consultation on individual return to work plans will ONLY include the worker, immediate supervisor, treating medical practitioners, injury management coordinator, rehabilitation providers, and at the clients request, industrial associations.

Further information and advice is available through the University's Risk Management Unit, Personnel Services.

Disputes

Any disputes arising from this process which cannot be resolved by mediation in the workplace may be referred to a rehabilitation mediation officer at the WorkCover Authority.