Should I provide suitable duties to an injured worker?

If your injured worker has some capacity for work, but cannot return fully to their normal role, as the employer you are responsible for providing suitable duties. Providing suitable duties for injured workers significantly improves recovery timeframes, Return To Work rates and claims outcomes. You can take a proactive step of preparing a list of potential suitable duties and send it to GIO prior to an injury, to help streamline the claims management process.

What must an employer do if there is a workplace injury?

Attend to the injured worker as soon as possible; Notify GIO within 3 working days; Give the worker written notice advising of their right to make a claim within 14 days; Accept the worker’s claim form (notifying their insurer of the claim within 3 working days) and then forward the claim to the insurer within 5 days; Start making weekly compensation payments within 14 days of receiving a new claim, or on the next payday where it is later than 14 days after receipt of the claim; Keep the worker’s position open for a period of at least 12 months; Provide the injured worker with suitable alternative duties. If it’s unreasonable or impracticable to do so, the employer must advise the worker in writing of the reasons; Ensure that an injured worker is assigned to a Return to Work Coordinator as soon as practicable in the event of a significant claim (where more than 100 employees are employed); Participate and co-operate with GIO to develop a Return to Work and / or Injury Management Plan for the injured worker; Provide suitable and meaningful duties in the workplace for an injured worker, wherever practicable

Tools and Resources for NT

Q: What is a Return To Work Plan?

A Return To Work Plan outlines the duties to be provided to the injured worker in the form of a written action plan that explains how you will help your injured worker stay at work while they recover. This plan is to be supplied to all parties.

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Training Calendar

We offer a suite of information and training courses for our policy holders, usually at our state-based offices, or onsite if required at your workplace. For further enquiries about other dates, locations and services, please email riskservices@gio.com.au.

Risk management

GIO has a Risk Management Team to assist our customers better manage their OHS and Injury Management systems and obligations.

If you have an OHS or risk management question, access our Safety Guru.

Safety Guru

If you have an OHS or risk management question, access our Safety Guru and our Risk Management team will be in touch.

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Return-to-Work & Suitable Duties

If your injured worker is unable to return to normal duties (and their treating doctor advises you of this in writing) you are required to develop a Return to Work (RTW) Plan. You must send us a copy of your RTW Plan and offer of suitable employment each time you revise it or develop a new plan. Please email all documentation to wcclaimsnt@gio.com.au.

If the injured worker has some capacity for work, you should include an Offer of Suitable Employment. Suitable duties are developed in consultation with the injured worker's nominated treating doctor and must consider their current work capacity and medical advice. For more information please visit the WorkSafe NT website.

Claims Reporting

We provide a range of monthly and online reporting tools designed to help you track your claims performance and assist you in identifying risk management strategies, including:

Claims Financial Total (CFT) - Summarises basic claims and financial data by policy period.
Customer Experience Report (CER) - Provides a national, high-level executive review and operational snapshot of performance to assist you in managing claims and trends. To obtain access to these reporting tools, please contact your Relationship Manager.

Posters & other forms

Example Return-to-work-Program

Return to Work Plan

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Frequently asked questions
for Workers Compensation

Suitable duties are short-term work duties agreed between the employer, the injured worker and treating doctor, to assist the injured worker’s rehabilitation.

Yes, as an employer you are responsible for providing suitable duties to injured workers who have some capacity for work, but cannot fully return to their normal role.

We’ve put together a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to help you in dealing with a workplace injury.

A Return To Work Plan is a written action plan that explains how you will help your injured worker stay at work while they recover.

More Workers Compensation FAQs