Queensland workplaces must have a current rehabilitation and return to work coordinator (employed in Queensland) if: a) the employer employs 30 or more workers (including permanent, part-time, or at a workplace in a high risk industry) or: b) the wages of the employer in Queensland for the preceding financial year was $5.135 million.

All areas curently listed on calendar

Brisbane
Gold Coast
Sunshine Coast
Gladstone
Rockhampton
Emerald
Mackay

Townsville
Mt Isa
Cairns

To provide participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to:

• Assist the employer to discharge legislative obligations as outlined in the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, including any amendments and apply a working knowledge of this legislation;
• Coordinate the return to the workplace of an injured worker recognising current workplace rehabilitation best practice guidelines;
• Coordinate the development of a policy, procedures and appendices, to manage workplace rehabilitation within their own workplace;
• Raise the awareness of other members of the workforce (supervisors, managers, workers) regarding workplace rehabilitation;
• Identify the practical steps and administrative (paper work) procedures required following the injury of a worker and throughout their rehabilitation;
• Identify the role of key persons involved in the rehabilitation process;
• Communicate with injured workers, management, treating medical practitioners, worker’s compensation insurers’ staff and other key persons involved in the workplace rehabilitation process;
• Establish a plan (or work with an external provider to establish a plan) which meets the needs of an injured worker.

Course content has been developed to conform to National Occupational Health and Safety Commission Guidance Note for Best Practice Rehabilitation Management of Occupational Injuries and Disease [NOHSC: 3021(1995)].  Modules include

• WPR 101: Introduction to Workplace Rehabilitation and Worker’s Compensation
• WPR 102: Injury Management in the Return to Work Process
• WPR 104A: Considering Organisational Requirements for Workplace Rehabilitation
• WPR103:    Worker’s Compensation Legislation
• WPR 104: Workplace Rehabilitation Policy and Procedures
• WPR 105: Practical Processes in Workplace Rehabilitation
• WPR 106: Customer Advisors, Doctors and External Providers.
  People Who Can Help in the Return to Work Process
• WPR 107: Gaining and Maintaining Support for Workplace Rehabilitation

1. Describe considerations for workplace rehabilitation in relation to a specific organisation;
2. Locate information relevant to rehabilitation in the Queensland legislation;
3. Coordinate rehabilitation with relevant stakeholders, particularly in relation to the recognition of paperwork, which may be used to facilitate the rehabilitation process;
4. Identify the basic elements for keeping accurate and objective case notes containing details of communications between the worker, the rehabilitation and return to work coordinator and other relevant parties in order to monitor the effectiveness of rehabilitation;
5. Create a basic two week suitable duties program;
6. Identify methods of communicating workplace rehabilitation information to the workplace and to deliver basic information relating to this;
7. Recognise the required criteria for accreditation of workplace rehabilitation policy and procedures.

Modules WPR101, WPR102 and WPR104A must be completed prior to commencement of the face to face course and presented to the course coordinator on (or by) day one of the course.

Whilst there are no mandatory requirements for entry to this course, it has been found that an effective Rehabilitation and Return to Work Coordinator requires:

Have sufficient physical strength and dexterity to attach slings, etc, direct loads and place loads and have good vision and hearing.

• Sound Interpersonal skills
• Good written and communication skills
• Sound numeracy skills
  
• Ability to enlist the support of both management and workers
• Good organisational ability