It’s never too early to talk about workers’ compensation

Best practice

Proactively share accurate knowledge about workers’ compensation, rehabilitation and return to work in an easy-to-understand and supportive way.

Why this is important

Making the process easy for injured workers and informing them of their rights leads to better recovery and return to work outcomes.

A recent report commissioned by Safe Work Australia found workers who receive relevant, timely and easy-to-understand information about workers’ compensation have improved experiences with, and outcomes from, the workers’ compensation system.

It also found that workers who feel informed about workers’ compensation before experiencing a work-related injury are more likely to:

• seek further information
• talk to their employer
• engage in workers’ compensation processes designed to support recovery and return to work.

Workplaces where the compensation process is normalised and people are supported to report work-related injuries and make a claim are also more likely to experience injured workers safely staying at or returning earlier to work.

Your toolkit

• The ‘Australian workers’ understanding of workers’ compensation systems’ report explains the benefits of informing workers about workers’ compensation and why employers play a key role.
  
  The report also includes advice on improving how you’re communicating to workers about workers’ compensation.
  • Provide information in the right format at the right stage of the workers’ compensation process.
  • Ensure information is clear and easy to understand, without legal jargon.
  • The tone of your information should be supportive, reassuring, empathetic and positive, with a positive focus on recovery and return to work.

• Check out this past e-bulletin about the stigma associated with workers’ compensation and what you can do to address it in your workplace. It includes links to a range of stigma-related resources and research reports.
• Read a summary about your obligations to support workers who experience a work-related injury.
• Follow the seven principles set out in the Guidelines for Standard for Rehabilitation to make sure your injured worker has the right level of support to either stay at work or return to work.