Rehabilitation Policy Criteria

Section 143(1) of the Tasmanian Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 requires employers who employ more than twenty (20) workers to prepare a rehabilitation policy in accordance with criteria approved by the Board.

The Board has identified and approved the following 10 criteria for the purposes of Section 143(1) of the Act.

A rehabilitation policy should satisfy the following criteria:

1. The policy should be a short statement of the employer’s commitment to the principles of effective return to work for injured/ill workers;
2. The policy must be capable of being implemented in the workplace concerned and be written so that it is easily understood by the workplace parties;
3. The policy should require rehabilitation programs and plans to be developed in consultation with all relevant parties including the injured/ill worker and his/her medical practitioner, the worker’s supervisor, the rehabilitation service provider and, if applicable, the insurer and the worker’s union representative;
4. The policy should clearly state the rights and responsibilities of all parties, including the right of injured/ill workers to choose their treating medical practitioner and participate in the selection of their rehabilitation service provider;
5. The policy should be consistent with the workplace health and safety policy of the workplace;
6. The policy should be endorsed by the workplace parties with provision for input by unions if requested by workers;
7. The policy must be supplemented by adequate written procedures, which are readily available in the workplace and which name key workplace personnel and the role of each in implementing the policy;
8. The policy should be displayed prominently at appropriate locations at the workplace in order that workers can readily refer to it;
9. The employer must arrange for the policy to be reviewed regularly (at least each year) to establish that there is continuing commitment to the policy by management and workers; and
10. The policy must be consistent with the provisions of the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.