Return to Work Queensland

Return to Work Queensland The official Queensland Government agency for rehabilitation and return to work (RRTW).

The Return to Work Queensland page provides resources to help rehabilitation and return to work coordinators and their employers achieve best practice. If you're part of the return to work community, use this page to connect with your peers and join a strong support network in Queensland.

Safe and sustainable return to work often involves two similar but different key tools.Rehabilitation and return to work...
26/08/2026

Safe and sustainable return to work often involves two similar but different key tools.

Rehabilitation and return to work (RRTW) plans are collaborative roadmaps created by an insurer with a worker, their employer and treating providers. They outline return to work goals, treatment, work capacity, suitable duties, restrictions, adjustments, and review dates.

Suitable duties programs are practical, task-focused plans developed by an employer. They detail what tasks a worker can safely do, hours and days of work, timeframes, restrictions, and how duties will progress as capacity improves. A suitable duties program sits within a RRTW plan and provides the day-to-day structure for a safe return to work.

Understanding the difference between these tools helps to keep everyone on track.

Learn more about the difference between these two tools - https://bit.ly/4g4DnYs

Did you know?Under section 228(S228) of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, employers must take all r...
18/08/2026

Did you know?

Under section 228(S228) of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, employers must take all reasonable steps to provide or assist with a worker's rehabilitation during their recovery.

This means providing suitable duties where possible to support a safe and sustainable return to work.

If you believe suitable duties are not practicable, you must provide your insurer with written evidence explaining why.

If you fail to meet these obligations, you may incur financial penalties or be prosecuted.

Understanding your responsibilities is an important part of supporting workers' recovery and achieving positive return to work outcomes.

For more information, contact your insurer or visit: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/rehabilitation-and-return-to-work/recovering-from-injury-or-illness/rehabilitation-roles-and-responsibilities/employer-obligations

When a worker is injured, it not only leads to time out of the workplace — it can shake their identity, confidence and s...
16/08/2026

When a worker is injured, it not only leads to time out of the workplace — it can shake their identity, confidence and sense of purpose.

The hidden impact of a workplace injury can show up as:

🧠 Loss of confidence in skills, value and future direction
🔄 Fear of being replaced or disconnected from their work community
💔 Grief of being unable to perform a role that once defined them

Rehabilitation and return to work coordinators are often the bridge back to meaning, connection and self‑belief for workers.

Making time and having honest conversations, providing suitable duties that feel purposeful, and checking in on a worker’s mental wellbeing can make a positive difference to a worker’s recovery and return to work.

Learn more about how to take a person-centred approach: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/news-and-events/newsletters/rehabilitation-and-return-to-work/rehabilitation-and-return-to-work-e-bulletin-editions/2022-e-bulletins/july-2022/what-is-a-person-centred-approach

If you’re in the transport, postal or warehousing industry keep reading!An industry survey to gain a deeper understandin...
02/08/2026

If you’re in the transport, postal or warehousing industry keep reading!

An industry survey to gain a deeper understanding of workers in these industries is closing at the end of this month.

Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, in partnership with SuperFriend and supported by GT Insurance, launched the Thriving Workplace Index survey to capture the real experiences of people working across the supply chain.

The survey aims to improve understanding of the challenges faced by workers, improve the mental health supports and information available, and identify where more support is needed.

Take ten minutes to make your voice count: www.surveymonkey.com/r/HHTS1

When a worker experiences an injury, they're often navigating uncertainty about their health, their role, and what comes...
28/07/2026

When a worker experiences an injury, they're often navigating uncertainty about their health, their role, and what comes next.

That uncertainty can increase stress, affect confidence, and, in some cases, delay recovery and return to work.

That's why genuine care, concern and clear communication matter.

Simple but effective communication practices can include:

🗓️ Checking in regularly, even when there is no update to share
🤝 Keeping conversations respectful and supportive
🗣️ Using clear, easy-to-understand language
📋 Clearly communicating the information available, and identifying what still needs to be resolved
💪 Focusing on what the worker can do, rather than what they can’t

The goal isn’t to have all the answers, it’s to keep the conversation going.

When workers feel supported and informed, they're better positioned to engage in their recovery and achieve positive return to work outcomes.

The Return to Work Communications Toolkit from ‘Good to go’ was developed by ARPA National and includes practical tools to help you keep the conversation going. You can find it here: https://goodrtw.org.au/communication-guide/

Two more people have recently been prosecuted for defrauding WorkCover.On 25 May 2026 a worker was convicted of defraudi...
20/07/2026

Two more people have recently been prosecuted for defrauding WorkCover.

On 25 May 2026 a worker was convicted of defrauding WorkCover because she worked for approximately four months while receiving compensation and hid this from WorkCover. She lied to her doctor and WorkCover about it, and when confronted, she lied again.

She was sentenced to six months imprisonment, wholly suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to repay nearly $12,000 to WorkCover.

On 29 May 2026, another worker was convicted of defrauding WorkCover. He made 33 false claims for reimbursement of expenses to travel to attend suitable duties he never undertook, and for accommodation that his employer had paid for.

The worker was sentenced to three months imprisonment, wholly suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to repay more than $4,500 to WorkCover.

Fraud is a crime. If you suspect it, report it: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/contact/report-fraud

A successful return to work journey begins with strong, supportive leadership.The National Return to Work Survey results...
14/07/2026

A successful return to work journey begins with strong, supportive leadership.

The National Return to Work Survey results highlight the challenges many workers with injuries continue to face:

• 64% of workers with a psychological injury felt their supervisor thought they were exaggerating or faking their injury.
• 41% of injured workers who had not returned to work believed they would be treated poorly after lodging a workers’ compensation claim.

When workers are concerned about how they'll be treated after reporting an injury or lodging a claim, they may delay seeking support, disengage from the recovery process, or experience poorer return to work outcomes.

Leadership plays a critical role in changing this – what can you do now?

• Senior leaders can put initiatives in place to support a positive workplace culture for safety, rehabilitation and return to work.
• Leaders can actively support and promote the business’s commitment to worker health and wellbeing.
• Collaborate with staff on solutions rather than imposing changes from the top down.
• Educate staff and supervisors about why return to work matters and how everyone plays a part.
• Train supervisors on how to talk to injured workers, help plan their return and resolve issues.

For guidance on responding to psychological injury at work, explore: https://bit.ly/4fGjWm7

The Workers’ Psychological Support Service (WPSS) has reached an important milestone - supporting 5,000 workers since th...
07/07/2026

The Workers’ Psychological Support Service (WPSS) has reached an important milestone - supporting 5,000 workers since the service commenced in 2018.

Delivered by experienced social workers, the service provides support and guidance for Queensland workers (and their families) who have been impacted by a work-related psychological injury, by connecting them with community supports.

This milestone demonstrates that workers are asking for help, and highlights the importance of early, tailored support for workers experiencing psychological injury.

This independent, confidential and free service is available to help all Queensland workers. If you’re an employer supporting a worker with a psychological injury, WPSS is a practical resource you can refer them to.

Call 1800 370 732 or visit wpss.org.au.

Psychological injury claims are rising, and workplace burnout is a growing contributor.EML Group and Monash University r...
02/07/2026

Psychological injury claims are rising, and workplace burnout is a growing contributor.

EML Group and Monash University recently reported an ‘always-on’ culture - increasing workloads, blurred work-life boundaries and digital overload are leaving many workers feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

The good news? Burnout is preventable.

Employers can make a difference by:

⚖️ Promoting work–life balance
💬 Encouraging open conversations
👂 Equipping leaders to respond early to concerns raised by employees
🛟 Creating psychologically safe workplaces where people feel supported

Implementing changes today can help prevent psychological injuries tomorrow.

Read more at: https://www.eml.com.au/latest-news/inside-the-minds-of-australias-workplaces-a-groundbreaking-mental-health-white-paper/

Early support changes everything.When employers step in during the first few weeks of a workplace injury, claim duration...
21/06/2026

Early support changes everything.

When employers step in during the first few weeks of a workplace injury, claim durations can drop by up to 40%, and workers stay connected, confident, and on track to recover.

Workers don’t need to be 100% fit to benefit from being at work. Safe, meaningful suitable duties keep people active, prevent deconditioning, and make returning to full capacity far more achievable.

What can you do to provide early support?

💬 Talk to the worker to understand what they can do, and offer suitable, safe duties.
📝 Develop a clear, written suitable duties program to set expectations and build trust, and share it with your insurer and the worker’s health providers.
🔄 Check in and adjust the program as recovery progresses.
🤝 Seek workplace rehabilitation support when needed - talk to your insurer.

Small steps early on make a big difference in getting people back to work and back to everyday life.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4ojGWwx

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150 Mary Street
Brisbane City, QLD
4000

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