The broader sector and its leaders are also committed to improving return to work outcomes, as well as retaining skilled and valued workers. A Premier’s Memorandum was issued in December 2025 confirming this commitment and progress.
Practically, the Best Practice Return to Work Framework promotes an organisation-wide approach to return to work systems, processes and practices, where return to work coordinators provide expert guidance and advice to equip the worker and leaders.
Here’s five key things to focus on to strengthen return to work outcomes in your agency.
- Meet regularly with executive leaders to discuss challenges, opportunities and accountability, enabling them to champion a supportive workplace culture and raise awareness of the health benefits of recovering at work.
- Involve executives in finding suitable work for recovering employees.
- Share success stories and performance data.
- Work together on a yearly return to work improvement plan, including resources and decision-making processes.
- Develop, review and continually improve your organisation-wide return to work program.
- Clearly define roles and responsibilities for everyone involved.
- Provide training and support for leaders and workers with return to work responsibilities.
- Establish clear decision-making and escalation processes to prevent delays.
- Identify and address workplace hazards and emerging symptoms promptly.
- Integrate WHS and return to work management systems for injury prevention and early action.
- Use simple risk assessments to spot team members at risk of delayed recovery.
- Work proactively with insurers and avoid a “wait and see” approach.
- Involve workers in planning their own return to work.
- Communicate openly, support decision-making and offer flexibility.
- Adapt processes and policies to focus on shared return to work goals.
- Recognise that person-centred support requires cultural change and executive support.
- Coordinate return to work with insurers, medical practitioners and treatment providers.
- Explore early intervention and optimise return to work strategies.
- Build strong relationships with workplace rehabilitation providers and share learnings across agencies.
Does your agency manage a high volume of claims? Consider enrolling your agency in icare’s Risk Education eXpress (REX) training program – Connect & Care. Targeted at people leaders who are supporting a worker with an injury, this program explains roles, process and a best-practice approach, and it’s free to any agency that is part of the Treasury Managed Fund.
- Visit Connect and Care | icare for more information.
- Read REX Workers Compensation & Return to Work Training to learn about additional training available for return to work coordinators and injury managers, as well as a growing Peer Connect community.
Don’t forget to look after your own wellbeing whilst supporting people through these processes. There are many resources available, which are free and confidential including:
EAP Manager Assist
- Call 1300 687 327 or visit convergeinternational.com.au to use the ‘Live Chat service
- Coaching advice on having difficult conversations, including how to support a worker with an injury.
- Support for your own wellbeing and mental health, including burnout.
Beyond Blue
- Visit Looking after your mental health at work for practical tools to stay well at work
- Tips on Supporting someone at work including how to encourage them to talk to a professional.
- Access a free, confidential online webchat for immediate support.
Additional Resources
- NSW Government Return to Work Strategy
- Best Practice Framework and downloadable resources
- 5 Key Things for Executive Leaders (PDF 185.23KB)
- 5 Key Things for People Leaders (PDF 243.66KB)
- 5 Indicators of an Effective Recovery at Work plan (PDF 233.53KB)
- Employer Recovery at Work Checklist (PDF 226.05KB)
- SIRA Return to work coordination learning portal
- SIRA Guidelines for workplace return to work programs
- SIRA - A Workers Compensation Guide for Employers
- 5 Key Benefits of working while you recover
- SIRA Programs supporting recovery at work
- SIRA How employers can prevent and respond to psychological injury in the workplace
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