'Suitable duties' or 'suitable employment' means employment in work for which the worker is suited, having regard to the following:

*   the nature of the worker'sincapacity and pre-injury employment

*   the worker's age, education, skills and work experience

*   the worker's place of residence

*  the details given in the medical certificate supplied by the worker

*   the provisions of the employer's return-to-work program and any rehabilitation assessment of, or return-to-work plan for the worker

*  any suitable employment for which the worker has received rehabilitation training

*  the length of time the worker has been seeking suitable employment

*   any other relevant circumstances.

Where employment is provided by the worker's employer, suitable duties include duties in respect of:

*   the number of hours each day or week that the worker performs work

*   the range of duties the worker performs, is suitably increased in stages (in accordance with a return-to-work plan).

Where the employer does not provide employment involving the performance of work duties, suitable training of a vocationally useful kind may be provided by:

*   the employer at the workplace or elsewhere

*  any other person or body under arrangements made with the employer.

but only if the employer pays an appropriate wage or salary to the worker in respect of the time the worker attends the training concerned.

However, in any such case, suitable employment does not include:

*  employment that is merely of a token nature and does not involve useful work having regard to the employer's trade or business

*  employment that is demeaning in nature, having regard to the nature of the worker's incapacity and pre-injury employment; the worker's age, education, skills and work experience; and the worker's other employment prospects.

Generally, a worker is to be regarded as suitably employed if:

*   the worker's employer provides the worker with, or the worker obtains, suitable employment

*  the worker has been reinstated to the worker's former employment under section 99 of the Industrial Relations Act 1996.

What is the role of the nominated treating doctor?

As an injured worker, you are required to nominate a treating doctor to oversee your injury management. This will normally be your treating GP. Where you can't nominate a treating doctor, the insurer may nominate a doctor to manage your injury.

The nominated treating doctor will certify your degree of fitness, make recommendations regarding return to work, and liaise with the employer, insurer and other treating providers.

What is the role of the rehabilitation provider?

A rehabilitation provider is a team of health professionals who can help you return to work. Rehabilitation providers offer services such as:

*   assessment of your needs

*   education about your injury

*   liaison with your employer

*   advice about changing parts of your job

*   programs to gradually increase your hours or duties

*   information about aids and equipment

*   advice about retraining

*   help with finding a new job.

What is the role of the return-to-work coordinator?

A return-to-work coordinator is an employee responsible for coordinating the rehabilitation efforts of the organisation in which they are employed.

The return-to-work coordinator is a fellow worker and acts as the link between all the people involved in an injured worker's rehabilitation - the injured worker, the treating doctor, the worker's supervisor, and the union. The return-to-work coordinator (who has undertaken the WorkCover approved two-day training course) can develop a return-to-work plan for the injured worker after discussions with the worker and the worker's doctor. The return-to-work coordinator should be aware of all the jobs carried out in the business and use this information in drawing up the return-to-work plan.

In complicated cases or where specific assistance is required, the return-to-work coordinator will refer the injured worker to an independent rehabilitation provider.