RETURN TO WORK AFTER WORK INJURY: A COMPARATIVE POLICY EFFECTIVENESS STUDY

Abstract

Extended periods of time off work can have a negative impact on health. Australia has an array of state-based workers’ compensation systems that seek to return injured workers to the workforce at minimal cost to society. These systems vary substantially in their design, and with respect to return to work (RTW) policy and practice. This study examined whether workers’ compensation policy is an independent predictor of RTW following work injury. Comparative analyses of administrative data from eight Australian workers’ compensation systems, containing 94,675 accepted work injury claims. Logistic regression controlling for demographic, work and injury factors were used to assess whether jurisdi..