Returning to work

When to return

Depending on your injury, you may not have to wait until fully recovered before going back to work.

According to the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), people who keep working, even if they cannot do everything at first, can recover quicker than people who take a longer time off.

SIRA also advises that:

• the longer you’re away from work, the harder it can be to get back to work 
• taking a long time off work can impact you socially, emotionally and physically 
• work helps you stay active and can be an important part of recovery 
• staying active helps to reduce pain 
• being at work is an opportunity to reconnect with people and be part of a community.

Learn more about returning to work after an injury at SIRA.

Discuss your specific situation with your medical practitioner before making a decision about when to return to work. 

Employment Assistance Fund (EAF)

The Australian Government's Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) gives financial help to eligible people with disability and mental health conditions and employers to fund:

• work related modifications and equipment
• Auslan services 
• workplace assistance and support services.

Find out more about the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF).

Flexible working arrangements

If your injury makes it difficult to work, or forces you to work differently, you could ask to change how your work is structured.

Depending on the extent of your injury and its recovery period, a flexible work arrangement can include:

• part time or job sharing
• changed start or finish times
• compressed working week (more hours over fewer days)
• working from home.

Find out more about flexible working arrangements at the Fair Work Ombudsman.