Motor accidents
Working after your injury can help you get better quicker. It helps you get back to your usual activities and routines while you’re recovering.
See your doctor
Why recover at work?
The NSW Compulsory Third Party (CTP) scheme focuses on supporting people to get back to their normal activities, including work, after a motor accident injury.
Work helps you stay active and is an important part of your recovery.
Recovering at work may mean:
- continuing your normal job and attending treatment appointments before or after work
- doing the same job with different hours
- modified duties
- a different job, at the same workplace or a different workplace
- a training opportunity
- a combination of these options.
Did you know?
- the longer you’re away from work, the harder it can be to get back to work
- work helps you stay active and is an important part of your recovery
- staying active helps to reduce pain
- being at work is an opportunity to connect with people and be part of a community
- working provides financial security
- taking a long time off work is worse for you socially, emotionally and physically
- research shows that work promotes recovery and reduces the risk of long term disability and work loss.
How to recover at work
These strategies will help you whether you were working up to the motor accident or not.
- Focus on what you can do and talk to your doctor and your employer about what you can do safely
- Look into the supports you can get to help you recover at work
- Ask your support team (for example, your doctor or insurer) if you have questions (click on the recovery at work support tab above to learn more)
- Monitor your pain levels - remember some increase in pain during activity does not mean that you are making things worse.
- Think about what tasks and jobs you can do if you can’t do your usual tasks or job.
- If you have a job, stay in touch with your employer and the people you work with – there may be training opportunities you can take while you’re recovering.
What you should do
You should take reasonable steps to recover following your motor accident injury.
Recovery plan
A recovery plan sets out your injury management and recovery. If the insurer asks you to, you must participate in its development and then follow the actions set out in the plan.
Certificate of capacity/certificate of fitness
Make sure that your Certificate of Fitness is current and your insurer has a copy. The Certificate of Fitness must be issued by your treating doctor and is valid for up to 28 days. Second and subsequent certificates may be completed by your treating physiotherapist or psychologist using the Certificate of fitness - treating physiotherapist or psychologist. Check with your insurer. Keep your certificate up to date as your insurer may not be able to make payments without a current certificate.
Talk to your employer and the insurer
If you are working, or were working up till the motor accident, talk to your employer about what you can do at work and start planning for your recovery at work as early as possible. You should discuss:
- suitable work options
- any barriers or risks to your recovery and whether workplace modifications or equipment could be helpful (click on the recovery at work support tab above to learn more)
- your recovery plan
- your progress.
If your employer needs assistance with any of these, your insurer can arrange a workplace rehabilitation provider. Your employer also may be eligible for incentives to help them support your recovery at work.
To learn more about workplace rehabilitation providers, see the who can help me recover at work? tab above.
If you are not working, talk to your insurer about getting support to get job-ready or get a new job.
You have a team of people supporting your recovery and a range of programs available to help you recover at, or return, to work.
Insurer case manager
Your insurer will assign a case manager to coordinate your claim. They are your main point of contact for payment enquiries and medical treatment and expenses.
The insurer case manager:
- is in regular contact with you, your doctor, treatment providers and, where appropriate, your employer
- authorises and arranges payment for medical and related expenses and vocational programs (where appropriate)
- determines your entitlement to personal injury benefits, including compensation for lost income
- helps your employer to support your recovery at work
- arranges assessments or services to help determine your capacity / fitness for work
- is available throughout your claim to discuss your needs, barriers or issues that may impact on your recovery.
Doctor
Your doctor’s role is to support and optimise your recovery.
You choose your treating doctor. It might be your GP or it might be a specialist.
Your doctor will:
- assess, diagnose, and treat your injury
- advise on medical treatment
- advise you on your capacity for work (and fill out the Certificate of Capacity / Certificate of Fitness)
- provide information to the insurer case manager to assist in managing your claim and your recovery
- where appropriate, help you and your employer (and other members of your support team) with your recovery at work.
- use this guide to help prepare for your specialist appointment
Return to work coordinator
Your employer may have a return to work coordinator. If so, this person is one of the people you will have the most contact with.
Return to work coordinators:
- will work with you and your supervisor
- help coordinate your recovery at work
- are a key link between you and the rest of your support team
- are your main contacts regarding your recovery at work progress and any issues you have at work
- can organise workplace modifications or equipment to help you recover.
If your employer does not have a return to work coordinator there should be someone else who is responsible for recovery at work at your workplace.
It's your employer's responsibility to know if they are required to have a return to work coordinator.
Your employer
Your doctor may certify you as fit to work straight after the injury, or you might need some time off before you go back to work.
When you go back to work:
- you may be fine to do the same work you did before
- you may be able to do the same job as before, but need to do reduced hours or need special equipment to do the job
- or you may be fine to work but need to do different work.
You and your employer can work together to ensure your recovery at work is successful. Your employer may also be eligible for incentives that can help them support your recovery at work.
The insurer may also be able to provide a workplace rehabilitation provider to help you and your employer. You can learn more by clicking on workplace rehabilitation provider below.
Workplace rehabilitation provider
Workplace rehabilitation providers can assist you to recover at work by designing a plan after consulting with you, your employer, your doctor and the insurer.
They are health professionals like occupational therapists, physiotherapists, rehabilitation counsellors and psychologists.
They can:
- assess your workplace and review your duties
- identify ways to help you recover at work
- advise about work options if you are unable to recover at work with your pre-injury employer.
You can speak with the insurer to refer you to a workplace rehabilitation provider. Or you can find a workplace rehabilitation provider here.
SIRA’s role
We regulate the NSW workers compensation and CTP systems.
Our job is to make sure these systems provide the best possible outcomes while remaining affordable and sustainable in the long term.
Our role includes:
- supervising insurers so they comply with legislation and understand their obligations
- educating workers about their rights and responsibilities
- supervising service providers so that workers receive effective treatment to enable recovery at work
- making programs and incentives available to support recovery at work.
Visit our contact us page for our phone, email and feedback details.
Independent Review Office (IRO)
The Independent Review Office (IRO) helps injured people resolve claim complaints about Workers Compensation & CTP Insurers. If you have a complaint about your CTP insurer which you have been unable to resolve with them in the first instance, please get in touch with IRO.
See their contact details
Recover at work assist program
The Recover at Work Assist (RAW) program can be used for a maximum of 12 weeks and fund up to $4,800 in costs incurred by the pre-accident employer, when supporting the recovery of the injured person.
COVID-19 update
If a small business using the Recover at work assist program scales back/closes due to the impact of COVID-19, the remining period of the program can be resumed once the period of 'changed business operations' is over and you return to work on your upgrading plan.
What do I need to do?
Update the SIRA CTP programs to support recover at work - application form with the amended dates, when known, and submit to the insurer.
What is the program?
This program helps people injured in a motor vehicle accident stay at their current place of employment by providing incentives to the pre-accident employer to offer the injured person suitable duties while they recover at work. The program minimises the financial burden to the employer, who would otherwise not be able to offer suitable work, delaying the injured person’s recovery
The program allows:
- the employer to receive up to $400 per week for a maximum of 12 weeks from the start of the program
- the employee to recover at work using a structured recover at work plan
More information
- More information regarding the eligibility criterion and the process for application for the support program can be found in the SIRA Guidance - CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work
- Alternately, please contact the CTP insurer
- Also see: SIRA CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work - Application Form and Terms of SIRA CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work
JobCover placement program
The JobCover Placement program (JCPP) funds up to $27,400 in incentives for employers to employ a worker with a motor accident injury
COVID-19 update:
For employers who have employed a person injured in a motor vehicle accident using this program but need to scale back or close their workplaces temporarily due to the impact of COVID-19, the duration of the program for the injured person will be increased to accommodate that period of change.
What do I need to do?
Employers should keep a record of the period of changed operations to support their claim for the incentive payments as their business re-opens, along with the usual proof of payment of wages to the injured person.
Employers and injured people should re-negotiate the new end date of the JCPP agreement when known and submit this new information in writing to the relevant CTP insurer.
What is the program?
The JCPP is designed to help an injured person secure ongoing employment with a new employer for a minimum period of 12 months. To support in making this offer of employment, incentive payments of up to $27,400 are made available for eligible employers, over a period of 12 months.
Incentive payments increase according to the length of time the injured person remains employed:
- up to $400 per week for first 12 weeks (maximum of $4,800)
- up to $500 per week for next 14 weeks (maximum $7,000)
- up to $600 per week for next 26 weeks (maximum $15,600)
JCPP also protects the employer from any costs associated with the aggravation of the existing injury(s) during the course of employment, for a period of 2 years.
More information
- More information regarding the eligibility criterion and the process for application for the support program can be found in the SIRA Guidance - CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work
- Alternately, please contact the CTP insurer
- Also see: SIRA CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work - Application Form and Terms of SIRA CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work
- Read the CTP JobCover Placement Program – Information sheet for workers and employers
JobCover6
JobCover6 is a 6-month program that funds up to $10,400 in incentives for employers to employ a person recovering from a motor vehicle accident.
What is the program?
JobCover6 program has similarities to the JobCover Placement Program (JCPP) and has been developed to support people locate suitable work where ongoing employment cannot be confirmed with a new employer. The key difference between the two programs is the program duration i.e. JobCover6 allows for shorter periods of employment (from 12 to 26 weeks), while JCPP has a minimum employment requirement of 12 months.
The program provides incentives to an employer to help offset the costs of engaging and training a new worker (the injured person) and provides up to $400 per week for 6 months (maximum of $10,400).
JobCover6 also protects the employer from any costs associated with the aggravation of the existing injury(s) during the course of employment, for a period of 2 years.
More information
- More information regarding the eligibility criterion and the process for application for the support program can be found in the SIRA Guidance - CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work
- Alternately, please contact the CTP insurer
- Also see SIRA CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work - Application Form and Terms of SIRA CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work
Transition to work program
The Transition to Work program helps pay for immediate or short-term costs that might prevent a worker from starting work with a new employee
COVID-19 update:
This program can be used to address a financial barrier that is preventing the injured person from accessing new employment.
What do I need to do?
The injured person needs to provide evidence of the financial barrier preventing them from accepting the offer of employment. This evidence then needs to be submitted along with the SIRA CPT Programs to Support Recovery at Work - Application Form to the relevant CTP insurer.
What is the program?
This program provides funding of up to:
- $200 to help the injured person in looking for employment
- $5,000 to address immediate or short term barriers that prevent you from accepting an offer of new employment.
Funds from the transition to work program can be used to pay for a range of items, including (but not limited to):
- Clothing (excludes personal protective equipment (PPE) and uniforms)
- Travel costs
- Child-care arrangements
The injured person needs to provide evidence of the financial barrier(s) and send that evidence along with their application to the CTP insurer.
More information
- More information regarding the eligibility criterion and the process for application for the support program can be found in the SIRA Guidance - CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work
- Alternately, please contact the CTP insurer
- Also see SIRA CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work - Application Form and Terms of SIRA CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work
Training
Training can help the injured person develop new skills and qualifications to keep their job or to get a new one. As part of the statutory benefits, an injured person may be eligible for support to undertake training.
More information
- More information on how one can get support for training, read the SIRA Guidance - CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work
- Alternately, please contact the CTP insurer
Equipment and workplace modification
Workplace equipment or modifications may help the injured person remain at work or commence work with a new employer. As part of the statutory benefits, the injured person may be eligible for equipment or workplace modifications.
More information
- More information on how one can get support with equipment and workplace modification, read the SIRA Guidance - CTP Programs to Support Recovery at Work
- Alternately, please contact the CTP insurer