Rehabilitation services providers
Rehabilitation services providers are engaged on workers’ compensation claims to provide specialised services to support workers in returning to work following a workplace injury.
After a workplace injury or illness, research shows that getting back to work safely can help workers have a faster and better recovery.
Being back at work boosts confidence and helps workers to rebuild a routine and social connection.
It’s better for everyone.
But the longer someone is away from work, the harder it can be to go back.
That's why employers have such an important role to play.
It’s also why they’re legally required to support their workers to get back to work safely.
But knowing how to do this effectively isn’t always easy.
This is where a rehabilitation services provider can help.
These are providers that WorkCover engages to help workers get back to work safely as they recover from an injury or illness.
They may include occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and other providers, depending on the worker’s needs.
Rehabilitation services providers can help with identifying tasks or activities a worker can do while they’re recovering, also known as suitable duties.
In some cases, they’ll help a worker transition to a new job or get on-the-job training at a different workplace if they can’t go back to their usual employer.
Rehabilitation services providers are here to make things easier.
They can help employers meet their obligations to find suitable duties and workers to feel confident and supported in coming back to work.
Often, a provider will visit a workplace in person.
They’ll look at what tasks or changes in the workplace could support a worker’s recovery and help them to get back safely. They might suggest changes to a worker’s role or tasks, or supportive equipment that can make the job safer and more suitable during their recovery.
This is known as a workplace assessment.
It’s best if both the employer and the worker attend and try to come prepared with ideas about tasks the worker can safely do.
The provider’s role is to support a smooth return to work.
They’ll do this by working together to get the best outcome for a worker and the employer.
Their job is not to assess workplace safety or whether an injury happened or not, or decide on treatment for a worker.
If there aren’t any suitable duties available right away, the provider can help set recovery goals so a worker can progress towards returning safely.
By the end of the visit, everyone should understand what’s needed.
There’ll be a plan in place to keep things moving along.
Sometimes the provider will stay involved after the visit to monitor a suitable duties program.
If this happens, everyone should keep talking openly, so changes can be made if things aren’t working well.
If a worker would like to see a different provider to the one they’ve been assigned, they can choose from the list of approved providers on our website.
Rehabilitation services providers are independent professionals, so employers and workers should still contact WorkCover directly with any questions about payments, premiums, or claim decisions.
For these questions, you can find the details for your WorkCover contact on the WorkCover Connect or Worker Assist online services.
For more resources and guidance, check out our website or subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Rehabilitation services providers are used to identify and address any risk factors which may impact a successful return to work, translate functional gains into meaningful work, and provide advice on the best pathway to recovery.
WorkCover has a dedicated panel of rehabilitation services providers made up of independent allied health and vocational providers. These providers work with all parties to make an injured worker’s return to work possible. A rehabilitation services provider for example, will engage with treating providers, employers and workers and help inform treatment plans, providing insights into the working environment that enables work to be used as therapy.
Qualifications and requirements
In December 2018, the Heads of Workers Compensation Authorities (HWCA) developed and endorsed a set of principles of practice for workplace rehabilitation providers (PDF, 0.28 MB) (or rehabilitation services providers) for jurisdictions to adopt in their own accreditation frameworks.
The requirements for WorkCover’s rehabilitation services provider panel is based on these principles of practice and the Return to Work Services Table of Costs is designed in accordance. All training and qualifications must be evidenced through certificates of completion.
The following is a summary of professionals, standard of qualifications and return to work services that can be provided as part of their role on WorkCover’s Rehabilitation Services Provider Panel (RSPP).
A person who is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (E.S.S.A).
Return to work services that can be provided:
- Workplace evaluation / assessment / initial needs assessment
- Functional capacity evaluation (FCE)
- Return to work facilitation
- Suitable duties plan
- Monitoring suitable duties
- Job seeking and job preparation
- Job placement services
- Workplace facilitated discussions
A person registered as an occupational therapist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Return to work services that can be provided:
- Workplace evaluation / assessment / initial needs assessment
- Functional capacity evaluation (FCE)
- Return to work facilitation
- Suitable duties plan
- Monitoring suitable duties
- Vocational assessment
- Job seeking and job preparation
- Psychological functional capacity evaluation (PFCE)
- Job placement services
- Workplace facilitated discussions
A person registered as an osteopath with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Return to work services that can be provided:
- Workplace evaluation / assessment / initial needs assessment
- Functional capacity evaluation (FCE)
- Return to work facilitation
- Suitable duties plan
- Monitoring suitable duties
- Workplace facilitated discussions
A person registered as a Physiotherapist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Return to work services that can be provided:
- Workplace evaluation / assessment / initial needs assessment
- Functional capacity evaluation (FCE)
- Return to work facilitation
- Suitable duties plan
- Monitoring suitable duties
- Job seeking and job preparation
- Job placement services
- Workplace facilitated discussions
A person registered as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Return to work services that can be provided:
- Workplace evaluation / assessment / initial needs assessment
- Return to work facilitation
- Suitable duties plan
- Monitoring suitable duties
- Vocational assessment
- Job seeking and job preparation
- Psychological functional capacity evaluation (PFCE)
- Job placement services
- Workplace facilitated discussions
A person with a tertiary qualification in an accredited rehabilitation counselling course or other recognised behaviour science degree and a full member of the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors (ASORC).
Return to work services that can be provided:
- Workplace evaluation / assessment / initial needs assessment
- Return to work facilitation
- Suitable duties plan
- Monitoring suitable duties
- Vocational assessment
- Job seeking and job preparation
- Psychological functional capacity evaluation (PFCE)
- Job placement services
- Workplace facilitated discussions
A person with a tertiary degree in social work.
Return to work services that can be provided:
- Return to work facilitation
- Suitable duties plan
- Monitoring suitable duties
- Vocational assessment
- Job seeking and job preparation
- Job placement services
- Workplace facilitated discussions
Those wishing to provide job preparation, seeking and placement services. The provider must be able to provide proof that they are appropriately skilled to assist the worker in preparing for employment.
Return to work services that can be provided:
- Job seeking and job preparation
- Job placement services
Referrals to a rehabilitation services provider
WorkCover will make a referral to a rehabilitation services provider to assist in achieving timely and sustainable return to work outcomes following injury and illness. They will provide expert opinion and solutions to resolving workplace injuries and assist in developing return to work plans, goals, and interventions that address risks, needs and abilities of the workplace.
WorkCover will refer to a provider on our Rehabilitation Services Provider Panel (RSPP) based on the location of a worker or employer and the types of services that providers can offer. WorkCover will also provide a high level overview of the types of services required to the rehabilitation services provider as part of this referral. However, all parties are vital to the success of early intervention and return to work planning. If there are significant barriers to a worker’s return to the workplace, a worker, employer, or provider can request that WorkCover refer for Workplace Facilitated Discussion assistance. For further information on this service, please refer to the Return to Work Services Table of Costs.
If at any time a worker is dissatisfied with the rehabilitation services provider allocated by WorkCover, they have the right to request a new rehabilitation services provider. The worker is then entitled to select a provider of their choosing from the list of available providers within their location.
When a worker has decided on the provider, they need to notify WorkCover of the request for referral. There may be instances where the selected provider is unable to complete the referred services due to availability, service offering or capacity in the selected location.
For further information, please see the current list of rehabilitation services providers and their available locations.
Types of services
Information on the services provided as part of the Rehabilitation Services Provider Panel can be found in the Return to Work Services Table of Costs.