SIRA has recently announced a newly designed plan to improve poor return to work performance in the NSW workers compensation scheme. Return to work rates have progressively declined since 2015, with the number of workers unfit for work increasing exponentially.
In 2015, upwards of 90% of injured workers were back at work within 13 weeks from the injury date. Today, less 80% of injured workers have returned to work in 13 weeks.
SIRA Chief Executive Adam Dent said that “SIRA is committed to undertaking 10 actions aimed at reversing the trend of poor return to work performance and pushing insurers and employers to do better”.
SIRA’s return to plan consists of the following 10 Actions
- SIRA has required all workers compensation insurers to resubmit their business plans with detail on how they will improve 4-week return to work performance by 28 February 2022.
- SIRA will review all insurers’ return to work practices in the first half of 2022.
- SIRA is introducing a return to work and early intervention Standard of Practice. SIRA is publicly consulting on the standard until 28 February 2022.
- SIRA will commence publishing the return to work performance of all insurers in 2022.
- SIRA is committed to improving transparency in the scheme by holding insurers accountable for their performance.
- SIRA is establishing a dedicated return to work inspectorate.
- SIRA is funding a research fellowship at the Black Dog Institute for 2 years to focus on return to work for people with a psychological injury.
- SIRA has expanded the scope of its review into the compliance and performance of Treasury Managed Fund (TMF) government agencies to audit return to work performance.
- SIRA will use predictive modelling to identify and target employers with workers that may be at higher risk of delayed return to work.
- SIRA is trialling its successful CTP Assist program in the workers compensation scheme for 12 months.
- SIRA has partnered with the Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association (ARPA) to further explore the benefits of workplace rehabilitation providers on positive return to work outcomes.
For more details on the SIRA’s return to work action plan please visit the SIRA website.
Source: State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA)
Title: Turning around poor return to work performance
Read time: 5 mins