Mr BALDWIN - 1996-11-20
Members would know that many Territorians are on workers' compensation. We share their desire to return to work as soon as possible. These are Territorians who unfortunately have suffered a debilitating injury. Their condition has stabilised, but they may not be able to return to work or their former employer. What has been done in this area?
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the honourable member's question gives me an opportunity to announce initiatives that the Work Health Authority is developing with the government in this regard. We have 2 clear responsibilities in relation to people who are injured in the workplace. The first is to ensure that they receive cost-effective, quality rehabilitation services from accredited and experienced practitioners. The second responsibility is to ensure that they are returned to the workplace as soon as possible. The government is keen to introduce strategies that will ensure that occurs.
In terms of accreditation, new legislation will ensure that only properly-qualified persons will be eligible to provide the necessary high standard of vocational rehabilitation service. They will need to be accredited under appropriate national standards, otherwise they will no longer be able to operate within the industry. That initiative is fully supported by the industry and other stakeholders. An employer has a duty of care to have an injured worker back in employment as soon as possible. Often, that effort is focused on the type of employment they were involved in prior to the injury. There is to be an alternative scheme whereby employers will cooperate to find work across different areas. For example, a worker who was injured in the construction industry may be offered work in the retail industry while they are recuperating from that injury. The existing injury will continue to be covered by the insurer involved in that injury in the first place. The new employer will be covered and
quarantined from any culpability in relation to the pre-existing injury.
These excellent initiatives will be introduced into the Assembly early in the new year when I anticipate that I will be able to announce other initiatives from the Work Health Authority.
Page 1791
Page 1790
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the honourable member's question gives me an opportunity to announce initiatives that the Work Health Authority is developing with the government in this regard. We have 2 clear responsibilities in relation to people who are injured in the workplace. The first is to ensure that they receive cost-effective, quality rehabilitation services from accredited and experienced practitioners. The second responsibility is to ensure that they are returned to the workplace as soon as possible. The government is keen to introduce strategies that will ensure that occurs.
In terms of accreditation, new legislation will ensure that only properly-qualified persons will be eligible to provide the necessary high standard of vocational rehabilitation service. They will need to be accredited under appropriate national standards, otherwise they will no longer be able to operate within the industry. That initiative is fully supported by the industry and other stakeholders. An employer has a duty of care to have an injured worker back in employment as soon as possible. Often, that effort is focused on the type of employment they were involved in prior to the injury. There is to be an alternative scheme whereby employers will cooperate to find work across different areas. For example, a worker who was injured in the construction industry may be offered work in the retail industry while they are recuperating from that injury. The existing injury will continue to be covered by the insurer involved in that injury in the first place. The new employer will be covered and
quarantined from any culpability in relation to the pre-existing injury.
These excellent initiatives will be introduced into the Assembly early in the new year when I anticipate that I will be able to announce other initiatives from the Work Health Authority.
Page 1791
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016