Vocational service providers
A vocational service provider is an organisation that employs qualified return to work specialists.
Their aim is to help you return to work safely and successfully.
There are a number of reasons why the TAC may refer you to a return to work specialist. Generally, this is when you need extra support for your return to work.
Depending on your needs, a return to work specialist can:
- Assess your current skills and abilities
- Assess your workplace to see what support you need
- Work with your employer and health professionals to explore your return to work options
- Prepare a personalised return to work plan
- Recommend modifications or equipment for your workplace
- Recommend and organise retraining programs
- Provide career guidance
- Help you find and apply for a new job
- Help you prepare your resume and provide interview training
Vocational rehabilitation programs
If you are looking for new or different work options because of your accident injuries, your return to work specialist will develop a vocational rehabilitation program.
This program is designed to prepare and help you to secure new job opportunities. It may include:
- Skill development and/or retraining programs
- Job seeking and interview preparation
- Trial periods
- A return to work plan, agreed to with your health professional and new employer
As part of the program, we expect that you will:
- Return phone calls to your return to work specialist, your employer and the TAC
- Attend appointments, course sessions, job interviews and work regularly and on time
- Participate in agreed vocational or return to work programs
- Identify and apply for suitable jobs independently
- Accept reasonable offers for job interviews
- Attend job interviews
- Provide evidence of job seeking (e.g. job diaries documenting jobs you’ve applied for)
- Accept reasonable offers of employment.
Through this program, the TAC provides you with a reasonable offer of vocational rehabilitation. By law, if you choose not to take part, we may be unable to pay your income benefits.