Certification of Return to Work Coordinators in QLD

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Do we require our RTW Coordinators in Queensland to be certified? Is there a minimum number of employees per site required before a RTW Coordinator is necessary?

The passing of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2013 in Queensland means that rehabilitation and return to work coordinators (“RRTWC”) no longer need to be certified to carry out their roles.

Employers are required to determine that the RRTWC they have appointed is 'appropriately qualified' to carry out their role. This means that there is also no requirement for registration with the Workers' Compensation Regulator and RRTWC don't need to renew their current certificates to continue working in their roles.

Your appointed RRTWC is “appropriately qualified” if they are able to competently carry out the following functions of a RRTWC:

compile and investigate initial injury notification information;
facilitate and lead the early communication with an injured worker to clarify the nature and severity of the worker's injury;
develop the suitable duties program component of a rehabilitation and return to work plan (if required) in consultation with the worker, the worker's employer and treating medical practitioner;
coordinate the worker's return to work;
monitor and ensure the work plan is consistent with the current medical certificate or report for the worker's injury;
liaise with any person engaged by the employer to help in the worker's rehabilitation and return to work;
liaise with the insurer about the worker's progress and indicate, as early as possible, and if any assistance or intervention is required; and
educate workers and management about workplace rehabilitation.

Different states (and territories) have different requirements for the appointment and training of a RRTWC. The table below summarizes those requirements.

Requirements for appointing and training a RRTWC
State/Territory	When is a RRTWC required?		Training/qualifications required
	Annual wages/premiums	No. of employees
QLD	>$3.854 million²if a high risk industry¹ or >$7.709 million² if a low risk industry	NA	No certification required – needs to be “appropriately qualified”.
NSW	Premium > $50,000 a year	NA	No certification required - must have relevant training, skills and experience to perform the role and functions of aRRTWC.
VIC	>$2,337,710required at all times² - organisations with total payroll less than this need to nominate aRRTWC when a worker has an incapacity for work.	NA	No certification required - must have: • an appropriate level of seniority • knowledge of the obligations of employers and workers under the Act, and • knowledge of the compensation scheme.
SA	NA	>30 in a workplace	Must have completed prescribed training and received certification.
WA	Must nominate someone who is responsible to manage the injury management system.	NA	No certification required.
NT	NA	NA	NA
ACT	Premium > $200,000		No certification required - must be suitably trained or experienced.
TAS	NA	>100	Must have completed approved training.

¹High risk industry examples: Agriculture, forestry and fishing; Mining; Manufacturing; Construction; Transport and storage.

²Effective from 1 July 2017, indexed annually.

Ai Group provide RRTWC training and other workers compensation training to assist your organisation with effective injury and claims management.

If you have further questions or would like more detail please contact us or call the Workplace Advice Line on 1300 55 66 77.

Annette Alexander

Annette is a Senior Advisor with Ai Group's Safety and Workers' Compensation Services. She has almost 25 years’ experience in work health and safety, having started her career as WHS advisor, then Manager, for mineral processing plants in regional WA. Her career has included work in WHS roles for heavy manufacturing, oil and gas, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) businesses, government bodies, and the banking and finance sector.