You

The most important person in your return to work is you.

By taking an active role in your recovery and working with others who can support you, you are more likely to have a positive and successful return to work.

To help your return to work you can:

• Set goals for your return to work and try to keep positive and motivated
• Focus on what you can do, rather than your limitations
• Update your resume and practice your interview skills
• Seek advice from your health professionals
• Talk to the TAC about the support we can provide you and your new employer

Find out more about the steps to a successful return 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 and your new employer
• 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 TAC support

Your health professional

Your health professional is the best person to recommend how long you need off work and when you can return. For example, this could be your GP, physio, surgeon or chiropractor. They can:

• Identify what you can do 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
• Provide advice on whether there are any restrictions or equipment needed for your return to work
• Advise you on how to best manage your return to work, such as when to take breaks and when to do exercises.

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 find and secure work.

They may:

• Talk to your health professionals about what you can and can’t do
• Help you develop your resume and practice interview skills
• Assist you with finding work opportunities
• Conduct worksite assessments with potential employers
• Recommend equipment or modifications you may need to return to work
• Liaise with potential new employers to arrange work trials and return to work plans

Find out more about return to work specialists

Before you return to work

1. Talk to the TAC about how we can help you find and apply for jobs, and ensure your return to work is safe and successful. This might include a referral to a return to work specialist
2. Talk to your health professional about your readiness to start work, and ask them to complete a certificate of capacity for the TAC that outlines what you can and can’t do due to your injuries
3. Think about the type of jobs you have the skills for and you would like to do
4. Research current job opportunities that might be a good match with your skills and abilities
5. Update your resume and practice job interview questions

When you return to work

1. Once you secure a job and return to work, even if it’s part-time, you must tell the TAC so that any income support you are eligible for can be calculated and paid correctly.
2. You can choose whether to discuss your injuries and any limitations at work. It may be helpful for your colleagues to understand what you can and can’t do.
3. Regularly review your return to work arrangements and continue to discuss your progress with your employer, health professional and return to work specialist (if applicable).
4. It is important that you feel safe at work. If you have any issues or concerns, you should speak to your manager, occupational health and safety officer or human resources officer. You can also speak to your return to work specialist, and the TAC.
5. Find out what to do if you have a flare up of your injury.

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 pay is 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

Travel to work benefit

If you are unable to travel to work 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 drove to work 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 to work 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.

Return to work plan

Once you have found work, we may recommend a return to work plan to ensure your return is safe and successful.

In most cases, a return to work specialist will develop the plan with you.

Your plan will be based on what you can do and what you need for a successful return to work. This usually includes:

• an assessment of your new workplace and role to find out if you need any supports in place
• an outline of your expected duties and hours
• recommendations for any workplace modifications or equipment
• details of any supports the TAC will provide to your employer

The return to work specialist will ensure your plan is agreed to by you, your employer and your health professional before you return to work. They will also monitor your progress once you return.

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.

Employer supports

If you start a new job, the TAC may be able to offer your employer a range of supports as part of a return to work plan. These include:

• WorkCover Insurance premium protection for the period of your return to work plan
• Wage subsidies to compensate your employer financially, during a trial phase and/or while you become confident and productive in your new role
• Paying for modifications to your workplace
• Purchasing equipment to help with your return to work.
• One off payment to assist with administrative costs

Your employer may also be eligible for other government support.

More information for employers is available on our new employer page