What are the requirements for a Rehabilitation and return to Work Coordinator in each state?
Click on the state that you would like to find out the specific rehabilitation requirements for:
State Requirements
Queensland
Rehabilitation and return to work coordinators no longer need to be certified to carry out their roles. It is now the responsibility of the employer to ascertain that a rehabilitation and return to work coordinators is 'appropriately qualified'
Appropriately qualified means:
a person has the qualifications, experience or standing appropriate to perform the function or exercise the powers of a rehabilitation and return to work coordinator.
The functions of a RRTWC includes:
- Compile and investigate initial injury notification information.
- Lead and facilitate the early communication with an injured worker to clarify the nature and severity of the worker's injury.
- Develop the suitable duties program component of a rehabilitation and return to work plan (if required) in consultation with the worker, the worker's employer and treating medical practitioner.
- Coordinate the worker's return to work.
- Monitor and ensure the work plan is consistent with the current medical certificate or report for the worker's injury.
- Liaise with any person engaged by the employer to help in the worker's rehabilitation and return to work.
- Liaise with the insurer about the worker's progress and indicate, as early as possible, and if any assistance or intervention is required.
- Educate workers and management about workplace rehabilitation and return to work.
KINNECT Training deliver BSBWHS417 - Assist with managing WHS implications of return to work to ensure that participants are ready to function as a return to work coordinator in Queensland.
South Australia
Under Part 3, section 26 of the return to work act SA - 2014, Businesses who employ more than 30 workers for three or more months are required to appoint a certified return to work coordinator who has completed a training course approved by ReturnToWorkSA. This training provides participants with an understanding of the role, functions and responsibilities of a return to work coordinator. Participants will be provided with tools and resources to assist with:
- Preparing the workplace.
- What to do when a worker is injured.
- Effective communication.
- Identifying return to work barriers and facilitators.
KINNECT Training offer BSBWHS417 to assist with your ability to deliver quality rehabilitation outcomes in your workplace. The program is Nationally Recognised and can form part of your studies in qualifications like BSB41416 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety.
At this stage KINNECT Training do not provide the approved ReturnToWorkSA program.
Tasmania
In order to practise as a Return to work Coordinator in Tasmania it is recommended to have appropriate training and skills under section 133D of the Compensation and Rehabilitation act-1988 Tasmania.
*You don’t have to be accredited by the regulator as long as learning outcomes are achieved
Appropriate skills should include:
- Develop return to work plans
- Contribute to a quality injury management system
- Facilitate a return to work
- Maintain customer relationships
KINNECT Training deliver BSBWHS417 - Assist with managing WHS implications of return to work to ensure that participants are ready to function as a return to work coordinator in Tasmania.
Victoria
A Return to Work Coordinator is considered competent if they have the required knowledge, skills or experience needed to perform the role of assisting the employer meet their return to work obligations.
The required skills and knowledge with respect to each competency listed below will depend on the employer’s circumstances. The employer must ensure that the Return to Work Coordinator has the following competencies:
- Knowledge of the employer’s return to work obligations under Part 4 of the Act including the employer’s obligation to provide the worker with pre-injury or suitable employment for the duration of the employer obligation period to the extent that it is reasonable to do so.
- An understanding of the role of the Return to Work Coordinator.
- An understanding of the steps that employers should take following a work-related injury.
- An understanding of the rights and obligations of injured workers.
- An understanding of how to plan a worker’s return to work, including the steps required to provide pre-injury or suitable employment.
- An understanding of which people the employer is required to consult with during the return to work process and the steps involved in this consultation process.
- An ability to communicate with the diverse range of people involved in the return to work process.
- Knowledge of where support, information and guidance is available and an ability to seek this assistance and guidance when appropriate.
- An understanding of the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of the worker’s private information in accordance with the Act and applicable privacy legislation and how to do this.
- An understanding of the procedure to be used by the workplace (agreed or specified by Ministerial Direction) when resolving a return to work issue.
- An understanding of the functions of the Return to Work Inspectorate and their role in enforcing compliance with Part 4 of the Act.
- Knowledge of the Victorian workers compensation scheme.
- Knowledge of the functions of WorkSafe in relation to return to work.
*This program is endorsed by the regulator
KINNECT Training are compliant and approved by the regulator to deliver the two-day course (the Role of a Return to Work Coordinator - Victoria)
Western Australia
Under section 155B of the injury Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 and the code, all employers must nominate an employee to have day-to-day responsibility for the Injury Management System – usually referred to as the Injury Management Coordinator. In small business the owner often fills this role. A medium-sized business may designate the role on a part or full-time basis. Large businesses may need to appoint a number of Injury Management Coordinators across many sites.
The code states, the Injury Management Coordinator will need PCBU support to perform their role effectively. The PCBU should ensure they have access to relevant training, resources and any other assistance required to carry out their roles.
The learning outcomes expected by Workcover WA to be a Injury coordinator are:
- Understand the practical application of the legal requirements involved in the injury management process.
- Understand the important issues of workplace culture, managing difficult workers’ compensation cases, and data analysis and reporting.
- Demonstrate the ability to develop a return to work plan in consultation with an injured worker.
KINNECT Training deliver BSBWHS417 - Assist with managing WHS implications of return to work to ensure that participants are ready to function as a return to work coordinator in Western Australia.
We currently do not offer any RRTWC course for ACT
Northern Territory
Within the Northern Territory framework rehabilitation has the following meaning:
“Rehabilitation means the process necessary to ensure, as far as is practicable, having regard to community standards from time to time, that an injured worker is restored to the same physical, economic and social condition in which the worker was before suffering the relevant injury.”
KINNECT Training can help you understand the processes to restore health and wellbeing and return your workers to work effectively through the program BSBWHS417 - Assist with managing WHS implications of return to work.
New South Wales
In NSW you must have the training, skills and experience to perform the role and functions of a return to work coordinator. The guidelines governing the training requirements of a Return to work Coordinator are outlined in on the SIRA webpage under Categories 1 and 2, as defined in the 1998 Act and 2016 Regulation.
If you fall under a Category One employer then you must appoint someone with the relevant training, skills and experience to perform the role and functions of a RTW coordinator.
These competencies include:
- Effective communication skills – able to communicate clearly, actively listen to others and respond with respect.
- The ability to consult with and influence stakeholders – collaborate with others and value their contribution.
- Negotiation and conflict resolution - gain consensus and commitment from others and resolve issues and conflicts.
- Being organised and skilled in time management.
- The ability to think and solve problems – consider, analyse and develop solutions to barriers to recovery at work.
- A knowledge of NSW workers compensation legislation and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the system.
- An understanding of the legal obligations of NSW employers.
*You don’t have to be accredited by the regulator as long as learning outcomes are achieved
KINNECT Training deliver BSBWHS417 - Assist with managing WHS implications of return to work to ensure that participants are ready to function as a return to work coordinator in New South Wales.
Queensland
Rehabilitation and return to work coordinators no longer need to be certified to carry out their roles. It is now the responsibility of the employer to ascertain that a rehabilitation and return to work coordinators is 'appropriately qualified'
Appropriately qualified means:
a person has the qualifications, experience or standing appropriate to perform the function or exercise the powers of a rehabilitation and return to work coordinator.
The functions of a RRTWC includes:
- Compile and investigate initial injury notification information.
- Lead and facilitate the early communication with an injured worker to clarify the nature and severity of the worker's injury.
- Develop the suitable duties program component of a rehabilitation and return to work plan (if required) in consultation with the worker, the worker's employer and treating medical practitioner.
- Coordinate the worker's return to work.
- Monitor and ensure the work plan is consistent with the current medical certificate or report for the worker's injury.
- Liaise with any person engaged by the employer to help in the worker's rehabilitation and return to work.
- Liaise with the insurer about the worker's progress and indicate, as early as possible, and if any assistance or intervention is required.
- Educate workers and management about workplace rehabilitation and return to work.
KINNECT Training deliver BSBWHS417 - Assist with managing WHS implications of return to work to ensure that participants are ready to function as a return to work coordinator in Queensland.
South Australia
Under Part 3, section 26 of the return to work act SA - 2014, Businesses who employ more than 30 workers for three or more months are required to appoint a certified return to work coordinator who has completed a training course approved by ReturnToWorkSA. This training provides participants with an understanding of the role, functions and responsibilities of a return to work coordinator. Participants will be provided with tools and resources to assist with:
- Preparing the workplace.
- What to do when a worker is injured.
- Effective communication.
- Identifying return to work barriers and facilitators.
KINNECT Training offer BSBWHS417 to assist with your ability to deliver quality rehabilitation outcomes in your workplace. The program is Nationally Recognised and can form part of your studies in qualifications like BSB41416 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety.
At this stage KINNECT Training do not provide the approved ReturnToWorkSA program.
Tasmania
In order to practise as a Return to work Coordinator in Tasmania it is recommended to have appropriate training and skills under section 133D of the Compensation and Rehabilitation act-1988 Tasmania.
*You don’t have to be accredited by the regulator as long as learning outcomes are achieved
Appropriate skills should include:
- Develop return to work plans
- Contribute to a quality injury management system
- Facilitate a return to work
- Maintain customer relationships
KINNECT Training deliver BSBWHS417 - Assist with managing WHS implications of return to work to ensure that participants are ready to function as a return to work coordinator in Tasmania.
Victoria
A Return to Work Coordinator is considered competent if they have the required knowledge, skills or experience needed to perform the role of assisting the employer meet their return to work obligations.
The required skills and knowledge with respect to each competency listed below will depend on the employer’s circumstances. The employer must ensure that the Return to Work Coordinator has the following competencies:
- Knowledge of the employer’s return to work obligations under Part 4 of the Act including the employer’s obligation to provide the worker with pre-injury or suitable employment for the duration of the employer obligation period to the extent that it is reasonable to do so.
- An understanding of the role of the Return to Work Coordinator.
- An understanding of the steps that employers should take following a work-related injury.
- An understanding of the rights and obligations of injured workers.
- An understanding of how to plan a worker’s return to work, including the steps required to provide pre-injury or suitable employment.
- An understanding of which people the employer is required to consult with during the return to work process and the steps involved in this consultation process.
- An ability to communicate with the diverse range of people involved in the return to work process.
- Knowledge of where support, information and guidance is available and an ability to seek this assistance and guidance when appropriate.
- An understanding of the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of the worker’s private information in accordance with the Act and applicable privacy legislation and how to do this.
- An understanding of the procedure to be used by the workplace (agreed or specified by Ministerial Direction) when resolving a return to work issue.
- An understanding of the functions of the Return to Work Inspectorate and their role in enforcing compliance with Part 4 of the Act.
- Knowledge of the Victorian workers compensation scheme.
- Knowledge of the functions of WorkSafe in relation to return to work.
*This program is endorsed by the regulator
KINNECT Training are compliant and approved by the regulator to deliver the two-day course (the Role of a Return to Work Coordinator - Victoria)
Western Australia
Under section 155B of the injury Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 and the code, all employers must nominate an employee to have day-to-day responsibility for the Injury Management System – usually referred to as the Injury Management Coordinator. In small business the owner often fills this role. A medium-sized business may designate the role on a part or full-time basis. Large businesses may need to appoint a number of Injury Management Coordinators across many sites.
The code states, the Injury Management Coordinator will need PCBU support to perform their role effectively. The PCBU should ensure they have access to relevant training, resources and any other assistance required to carry out their roles.
The learning outcomes expected by Workcover WA to be a Injury coordinator are:
- Understand the practical application of the legal requirements involved in the injury management process.
- Understand the important issues of workplace culture, managing difficult workers’ compensation cases, and data analysis and reporting.
- Demonstrate the ability to develop a return to work plan in consultation with an injured worker.
KINNECT Training deliver BSBWHS417 - Assist with managing WHS implications of return to work to ensure that participants are ready to function as a return to work coordinator in Western Australia.
We currently do not offer any RRTWC course for ACT
Northern Territory
Within the Northern Territory framework rehabilitation has the following meaning:
“Rehabilitation means the process necessary to ensure, as far as is practicable, having regard to community standards from time to time, that an injured worker is restored to the same physical, economic and social condition in which the worker was before suffering the relevant injury.”
KINNECT Training can help you understand the processes to restore health and wellbeing and return your workers to work effectively through the program BSBWHS417 - Assist with managing WHS implications of return to work.
New South Wales
In NSW you must have the training, skills and experience to perform the role and functions of a return to work coordinator. The guidelines governing the training requirements of a Return to work Coordinator are outlined in on the SIRA webpage under Categories 1 and 2, as defined in the 1998 Act and 2016 Regulation.
If you fall under a Category One employer then you must appoint someone with the relevant training, skills and experience to perform the role and functions of a RTW coordinator.
These competencies include:
- Effective communication skills – able to communicate clearly, actively listen to others and respond with respect.
- The ability to consult with and influence stakeholders – collaborate with others and value their contribution.
- Negotiation and conflict resolution - gain consensus and commitment from others and resolve issues and conflicts.
- Being organised and skilled in time management.
- The ability to think and solve problems – consider, analyse and develop solutions to barriers to recovery at work.
- A knowledge of NSW workers compensation legislation and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the system.
- An understanding of the legal obligations of NSW employers.
*You don’t have to be accredited by the regulator as long as learning outcomes are achieved
KINNECT Training deliver BSBWHS417 - Assist with managing WHS implications of return to work to ensure that participants are ready to function as a return to work coordinator in New South Wales.
