Who can help me recover at work?

Your insurer will assign a case manager to coordinate your claim. They are your main point of contact for payment enquiries and medical treatment and expenses.

The insurer case manager:

• is in regular contact with you, your doctor, treatment providers and, where appropriate, your employer
• authorises and arranges payment for medical and related expenses and vocational programs (where appropriate)
• determines your entitlement to personal injury benefits, including compensation for lost income
• helps your employer to support your recovery at work
• arranges assessments or services to help determine your capacity / fitness for work
• is available throughout your claim to discuss your needs, barriers or issues that may impact on your recovery.

Your doctor’s role is to support and optimise your recovery.

You choose your treating doctor. It might be your GP or it might be a specialist.

Your doctor will:

• assess, diagnose, and treat your injury
• advise on medical treatment
• advise you on your capacity for work (and fill out the Certificate of Capacity / Certificate of Fitness)
• provide information to the insurer case manager to assist in managing your claim and your recovery
• where appropriate, help you and your employer (and other members of your support team) with your recovery at work.
• use this guide to help prepare for your specialist appointment

Your employer may have a return to work coordinator. If so, this person is one of the people you will have the most contact with.

Return to work coordinators:

• will work with you and your supervisor
• help coordinate your recovery at work
• are a key link between you and the rest of your support team
• are your main contacts regarding your recovery at work progress and any issues you have at work
• can organise workplace modifications or equipment to help you recover.

If your employer does not have a return to work coordinator there should be someone else who is responsible for recovery at work at your workplace.

It's your employer's responsibility to know if they are required to have a return to work coordinator.

Your doctor may certify you as fit to work straight after the injury, or you might need some time off before you go back to work.

When you go back to work:

• you may be fine to do the same work you did before
• you may be able to do the same job as before, but need to do reduced hours or need special equipment to do the job
• or you may be fine to work but need to do different work.

You and your employer can work together to ensure your recovery at work is successful. Your employer may also be eligible for incentives that can help them support your recovery at work.

The insurer may also be able to provide a workplace rehabilitation provider to help you and your employer. You can learn more by clicking on workplace rehabilitation provider below.

Workplace rehabilitation providers can assist you to recover at work by designing a plan after consulting with you, your employer, your doctor and the insurer.

They are health professionals like occupational therapists, physiotherapists, rehabilitation counsellors and psychologists.

They can:

• assess your workplace and review your duties
• identify ways to help you recover at work
• advise about work options if you are unable to recover at work with your pre-injury employer.

You can speak with the insurer to refer you to a workplace rehabilitation provider. Or you can find a workplace rehabilitation provider here.

We regulate the NSW workers compensation and CTP systems.

Our job is to make sure these systems provide the best possible outcomes while remaining affordable and sustainable in the long term.

Our role includes:

• supervising insurers so they comply with legislation and understand their obligations
• educating workers about their rights and responsibilities
• supervising service providers so that workers receive effective treatment to enable recovery at work
• making programs and incentives available to support recovery at work.

Visit our contact us page for our phone, email and feedback details.

The Independent Review Office (IRO) helps injured people resolve claim complaints about Workers Compensation & CTP Insurers. If you have a complaint about your CTP insurer which you have been unable to resolve with them in the first instance, please get in touch with IRO.

See their contact details