Do I need a Return to Work program?
From 31 May 2019, the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) requires you to have an up-to-date Return to Work program in place to respond to work-related injury or illness.
Your obligations
As an employer, you’re required to help an injured employee continue or return to work as part of their recovery from injury or illness by:
- providing suitable employment
- maintaining a tailored return to work program for the organisation
- co-creating tailored injury management plans with their insurer, injured worker and medical and treatment providers throughout the management of a claim.
Due date
You have until 31 May 2019 to put your program in place, or update it in line with SIRA’s Guidelines for workplace return to work programs.
What is a Return to Work program?
A Return to Work program outlines the formal policy for you to manage injury or illness in your workplace; and represents your commitment to the health, safety and recovery of your people following an incident. It's a separate and additional requirement to an individual’s Injury Management Program (PDF, 0.6 MB).
Employer categories
SIRA groups employers into two categories. Depending on the size and nature of your business, you'll fall under one of the following: