Injury management

Under the provisions of the Act, injury management is defined as the management of an injured worker intended to provide the worker with a timely, safe and durable return to work following an injury.

Injury management is a team approach involving the three key parties: the injured worker, the treating medical practitioner and the employer. If the return to work program becomes too complex, the services of a vocational rehabilitation provider may be enlisted by the team.

Rehabilitation may be defined as part of the injury management process. Where necessary it can include (but is not limited to) the use of physical and vocational services.

Key principles of injury management

• Injury management is a concept that recognises employers and injured workers as the primary stakeholders in the workers compensation system.
• The injury management process aims to be transparent, cost-efficient and effective.
• Medical practitioners and employers should play a central role in the return to work of injured workers. All parties involved should be aware that for injury management to work it requires joint decision-making, and for the process to remain as transparent as possible.
• The employer and the injured worker should be aware of their rights and responsibilities, and the injured worker should be actively involved in the injury management process.
• Early intervention and proactive management are critical in achieving return to work goals.
• The success of a workplace-based injury management system depends on a number of factors. It is in the best interests of all involved if the injured worker returns to their fullest capacity for employment.
• One of the functions of the Board is to promote and support the effective injury management of workers.
• The Board is currently preparing a Return to Work and Injury Management Model to provide a framework for improving and streamlining the management of workplace injury and illness.

Details of the Model will be available on this site once it has been finalised.