Getting ready work and thinking about your options
For people thinking about their work options
Not sure where to start or what you can do now?
If you’re thinking about returning to work, or starting work for the first time since your accident, the TAC can support you.
Together, we can explore your options, help you get ready for work and to find work.
At this stage, the key things you need to think about and understand are:
- what you want to do
- what you are able to do
- the pathways that are available
- the job options that may be suited to you and are available
- the support you have available to help you in each stage of the process
Who can support your return to work
You
The most important person in your return to work is you.
By taking an active role and working with others who can support you, you are more likely to have a positive and successful return to work.
Find out more about the steps to exploring work options
The TAC
Our role is to ensure you have the right services and supports in place to help you with a successful return to work. In some cases, you might work with more than one person at the TAC.
We will:
- Talk to you about your recovery and rehabilitation progress
- Talk about the type of work you might like to do
- Explain what supports are available to help you
- Work with you and your health professionals to understand your capacity to work
- Coordinate any additional services or referrals to support your return to work
If you are already receiving income support from the TAC, we can continue to offer this benefit until you are fit to fully return to work.
Find out more about income support and return to work
Your health professionals
Your health professionals are the best people to recommend when you are ready to return to work. For example, this could be your GP, physio, surgeon or occupational therapist. They can:
- Identify what you can do, what you may not be ready to do yet, and any limitations you may have
- Discuss with you the most suitable options for your return to work
- Provide health advice on what you can do to prepare for work
Your health professional should use a certificate of capacity to make these recommendations.
Return to work specialist
If we refer you to a return to work specialist, they can work with you and your health professionals to understand:
- What you can and can’t do due to your injuries
- Your current skills and experience
- Your interests, and the kind of work you might like to do
They may also do a vocational assessment to match your skills and interests to the current job market, to help identify what options are available for you.
They may continue to work with you when you are ready to start looking for work and applying for jobs.
Find out more about return to work specialists
Steps to exploring your work options
- Talk to your doctor or health professionals about your readiness to start work, what you can do now and what you might be able to do in the future
- Think about your current interests, skills and experience
- Think about the type of work you might like to do
- Research different work options and look at the current demand for these roles
- Talk to the TAC about how we can help you
Getting ready to look for work
Once you know the kind of work you would like to do, you may need to spend some time getting ready for work. This may include:
- Upskilling in a particular area which may require training or study
- Being physically ready
- Being prepared mentally and socially
- Getting used to a new routine
- Getting used to travelling to a new workplace
- Building your employability through work experience or work trials
Remember, you don’t have to be fully recovered to return to work.
In many cases, returning to work can help your recovery and rehabilitation. It can help you set clear goals, introduce daily routines, and help you to focus on what you can do, rather than the limitations of your injury.
Who can support your return to work
You
The most important person in your return to work is you.
By taking an active role and working with others who can support you, you are more likely to have a positive and successful return to work.
Find out more about the steps to getting ready to work
The TAC
Our role is to ensure you have the right services and supports in place to help you with a successful return to work. In some cases, you might work with more than one person at the TAC.
We will:
- Talk to you about your recovery and rehabilitation progress
- Talk about the type of work you might like to do
- Explain what supports are available to help you
- Work with you and your health professionals to understand your capacity to work
- Coordinate any additional services or referrals to support your return to work
Find out more about how the TAC can support you
Your health professionals
Your health professionals are the best people to recommend when you are ready to return to work, and to help you prepare physically and mentally for work. For example, this could be your GP, physio, surgeon or occupational therapist.
They can:
- Identify what you can do, what you may not be ready to do yet, and any limitations you may have
- Discuss with you the most suitable options for your return to work
- Provide advice on what you can do to prepare for work physically, mentally and socially
Your health professional should use a certificate of capacity to make these recommendations.
Return to work specialist
If we refer you to a return to work specialist, they can work one-on-one with you to help you get ready for work.
They may:
- Talk to your health professionals about what you can and can’t do
- Ask you about your skills, experience and interests
- Do an assessment to match your skills and interests to the current job market, to help identify what options are available for you
- Recommend suitable retraining options and work readiness programs
They may continue to work with you when you are ready to start looking for work and applying for jobs.
Find out more about return to work specialists
Steps to getting ready to work
- Talk to your doctor or health professionals about your readiness to start work, and what you can do to help yourself physically and mentally prepare for work.
- Think about the type of work you might like to do
- Research different work options and look at the current demand for these roles
- Think about any areas you might need further skills in, to help you find the work you want
- Consider a mentoring program or volunteer opportunities to improve your skills and get you ready – a return to work specialist can help connect you with these
- Talk to the TAC about how we can help you
How the TAC can support you
Income support
If you are already receiving income support from the TAC, we can continue to offer this benefit until you are fit to fully return to work.
Once you return to work, even if it’s on reduced hours, you must contact the TAC so that your income support can be calculated correctly.
Generally, if you go back to work and your employer pays you less than the TAC paid you before you returned to work, we can top-up your pay.
Find out more about income support and return to work
Retraining opportunities
When looking for new work options, your return to work specialist will first look at jobs you can do with your current skills and abilities.
However, if your doctor doesn’t believe you can go back to your normal work in the long term, the TAC may consider funding a retraining program.
A retraining program is designed to help you gain new or updated skills to prepare you for work in a different field. Your return to work specialist will discuss these options with you, and together, would agree on the best area to focus on retraining based on your interests and abilities.
Travel to work benefit
If you are unable to travel to your job in your usual way because of your accident injuries, you may be eligible for a ’travel to work’ benefit.
The TAC will work with you and your health professional to assess your eligibility. For example, if you were able to drive before your accident, but aren’t able to drive at the moment because you have a leg injury, the TAC can reimburse your alternative travel costs.
Your health professional should provide a written request which states that you are not able to travel in your usual way. They should also recommend other forms of suitable transport, for example, public transport.
We can pay the travel to work benefit for a maximum of 24 weeks and it is capped at a maximum of $1,670. This amount is updated every year on 1 July.
Travel to and from a TAC funded training program
We can reimburse you the reasonable cost of your travel when going to TAC funded training.
If you travel using your own vehicle, we can reimburse you up to a maximum of 30c per kilometre.
You can claim the costs of your travel using the Travel declaration form.
Allied health and mental health services
Allied health services include a range of treatments to help you move better, relieve pain or improve function. They include treatments such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and exercise physiology.
Mental health services include treatment or counselling from psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers.
Your healthcare professional may recommend one or more of these services to help you physically and/or mentally prepare for and return to work.
The TAC may consider paying for these services when they are related to your transport accident injuries and support your return to work plan.
