Suitable duties program

A suitable duties program will be developed by an employer (a rehabilitation and return to work coordinator or other person doing this role) based on a worker’s individual situation and needs.

The purpose of a suitable duties program is to help a worker recover and safely build their fitness and capacity to return to normal duties and hours.

A suitable duties program is different to a rehabilitation and return to work plan (RRTW plan), which is developed by an insurer. A suitable duties program sits within a RRTW plan. See the Planning a return to work – Rehabilitation and return to work plans page for more information about RRTW plans.

What is a suitable duties program?

A suitable duties program sits within a rehabilitation and return to work plan. It is an official document that considers a worker’s current physical, psychological and cognitive abilities, and clearly sets out the tasks they’ll do as part of their job while they get better. It’ll also state how long a worker will do these tasks for and whether they’ll change as their work fitness improves.

A suitable duties program should be regularly monitored and revised to ensure work hours and duties remain appropriate as a worker’s capacity increases throughout their recovery.

What goes into a suitable duties program?

• Personal details and contact information.
• How long suitable duties will be completed for (this should match the work capacity certificate or be approved by a treating doctor).
• Any tasks that will change gradually as a worker recovers and can do more.
• Whether there are limits, restrictions and/or workplace changes required (as outlined in a worker’s work capacity certificate).
• Days and hours of work.
• Whether training is required to do the suitable duties.
• A date to review and update the program.
• Everyone involved must approve and sign the program (a worker and their rehabilitation and return to work coordinator, work supervisor, and treating doctor).

A suitable duties program can be discussed with a worker and their employer and insurer. It should be regularly monitored and revised to ensure work hours and duties remain appropriate as a worker’s capacity increases throughout their recovery.