You

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

When planning your return to a work, it is helpful to keep a positive mindset and focus on what you can do, rather than the limitations of your injury. In many cases, returning to work can help you recover faster.

To help your return to work you can:

• Stay in contact with your workplace and your health professional to discuss your return to work
• Keep your workplace up to date with your progress and talk about options to return to work
• Talk to the TAC about the support we can provide you

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 work with you, your employer, and any health professionals or support services you may need.

After your accident, we will contact you to:

• Find out how you are progressing in your recovery
• Talk about your type of work and your plans to return
• Explain what options and supports are available to make your return as smooth as possible.
• Coordinate any additional services or referrals to support your return to work.

Find out more about how the TAC can support you

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:

• Tell you what you can and can’t do while you are recovering
• Discuss with you the most suitable options for your return to work
• 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. This information helps the TAC understand what you can and can’t do, and what support we can provide.

Return to work specialist

In some cases, we may refer you to a return to work specialist to support your return to work.

They can work with you, your employer and health professional to help you get back to work safely and successfully. They may also make recommendations and develop a return to work plan.

Find out more about return to work specialists

After your accident

• As soon as you are able, contact your workplace to discuss your potential return to work. You don’t have to fully recovered or have a clear return date before you start the conversation.
• Discuss your work with your health professional (such as a GP, physiotherapist or surgeon) to assess how long you need off work, when you can return and in what capacity.
• Consider the need to employ substitute labour to perform the duties you are unable to perform as a result of your transport accident injuries. The TAC may be able to take these costs into account when assessing your eligibility for income support.
• Ask your health professional to complete a certificate of capacity for the TAC. You can also ask them about what you can do as part of your recovery to help prepare for your return to work.

Preparing to return

• Keep your workplace up to date with your progress. If appropriate, arrange catch ups with your work colleagues to keep in touch and maintain your work relationships.
• Talk to your health professional and workplace about your options to return to work. This might include reduced hours or alternative duties. Think about who could help you in your role, if you cannot fully return to work.
• Try to keep positive and motivated – focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t.

When you return

• Once you return to work, you must tell the TAC so that any income support you are eligible for can be calculated and paid correctly. This includes if it is part-time, unpaid or voluntary.
• You can choose whether to discuss your injuries and any limitations at work. It may be helpful for others to understand what you can and can’t do, or why your role may have changed.
• Regularly review your return to work arrangements and continue to discuss your recovery progress with your support team, including your health professional and return to work specialist (if applicable)
• If you have any issues or concerns, please contact the TAC. We can recommend the next steps to take to help you resolve any issues you are facing.
• Find out what to do if you have a flare up of your injury

The TAC can provide a range of services and benefits to support your return to work. Your TAC claims manager will discuss these options with you and let you know how to access them.

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.

If your business is employing substitute labour, we may take this cost into account when assessing your income support.

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 for self employed clients

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 $1,730. This amount is updated every year on 1 July.

Return to work plan

If you require extra support to return to work because of your accident injuries, we may recommend a return to work plan.

In most cases, we will refer you to a return to work specialist who 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 workplace and role to find out if you need any changes to support your return
• an outline of your expected duties and hours
• recommendations for any workplace modifications or equipment
• details of any supports the TAC can provide to your business, such as paying for modifications or equipment

The return to work specialist will ensure your plan is agreed to by you 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.