RTW Matters has extracted the data from the last five RTW Monitor reports and analysed the information on a jurisdictional basis.  As one of a series of publications covering the various jurisdictions, this review details Victorian results.  We've sought to highlight trends and comparison between the jurisdictions.

Below is the Executive Summary of Victorian results.  Click on the icon below for the full results. And stay tuned - next week, Dr Mary Wyatt will offer her take on the RTW situation in Victoria.

Return to work results

Return to work rates were falling in Victoria between 2005-06 and 2008-09. The rate of decline accelerated in 2008-09, in line lower return to work rates often seen in poorer financial circumstances.  Over the last 12 months return to work rates have improved.

 The RTW rate measures whether somebody has returned to work at any stage after their claim was lodged and before the Return to Work Monitor interview, seven to nine months after their claim has been lodged.

 In 2009-10 the RTW rate was back at the 2006-07 level of 85%. The durable, or sustained RTW rate, was back to the 2007-08 level of 75%. Both of these are now the same as the national average.

Over the last 12 months there has been improvement in the length of time people are back at work for a durable return to work. In 2009-10 the RTW duration was back at the 2007-08.

 Over the last five years there has been a sustained increase in the length of time people are back at work for a non-durable return to work. That means people are returning to work earlier in cases where they go back to work but do not remain at work.

 Over the last five years there has not been a material change in the duties people return to when they first go back to work.  This includes whether the duties provided were considered suitable and whether the duties were modified.

 There has been a slight reduction in the percentage of people who return to their normal hours of work when they first go back to work.  There has also been a modest reduction of people who return to work with the same employer and carry out the same duties as prior to the injury.

 In this year's Monitor analysis we have included information on sources of income at the time of the interview. This is a second measure of return to work, providing another snapshot to assess whether return to work has been partial or full, and whether return to work has been sustained (the question is about income at the time of the interview).  

 The main source of income coming from employment has been declining over the last five years. As with the RTW rates, this decline in income from employment indicates a gradual reduction in RTW since 2005-06.  There has been a steady increase in workers compensation being the main source of income.

As seen in the RTW rates, there is a drop in employment being the main source of income with the financial downturn of 2008, and an increase in employment as the main source of income. Nevertheless, the five-year trend is for declining return to work outcomes.

 

Return to work influences

The proportion of injured workers who said a RTW plan has been developed has steadily increased in Victoria over the last four years. In the last 12 months there has been a notable improvement in people reporting they have been involved in the development of the RTW plan.

However, over the last five years there has been a steady downward trend in the percentage of people reporting that the RTW plan was helpful.

 In Victoria employees identified the main source of help for RTW as their doctor. 80% of employees in Victoria reported their doctor assisted with RTW.

Over the last four years there has been a slight but steady reduction in the percentage of employees who advise their supervisor helped with RTW, and no material in change in those advising their employer helped with RTW.  There has also been no change in the percentage who report the insurer helped with RTW in Victoria.  This remains below the national average.

 In 2008-09 31% of employees indicated someone made their RTW harder. This dropped by 5% in 2009-10, taking it back to 2007-08 levels. This year the percentage of Victorian employees who report someone made their RTW harder is better than the national average.

Just over 15% of employees said their employer made RTW harder. 15% of employees indicated their supervisor made RTW harder, and 13% indicated the insurer made RTW harder. Both the supervisor and insurer results are poorer than the national average.

Over the last five years there has been a substantial drop in the percentage of Victorian employees interviewed who said the main reason they were not working was injury related. This has dropped from 94% in 2005- 06 to 66% in 2009-10. Over that period there has been a 9% increase in retrenchment or dismissal as the reason for not working.  However, this does not fully explain the near 30% drop in injury related reasons.

On virtually all measures of workplace culture, there has been a modest reduction in Victorian employee ratings of their work situation. This includes the importance of the work they do, satisfaction with their work, and the sense they were valued at work.

There has been a greater drop in rating of management help with RTW, whether their employer has policies and procedures on RTW, and whether the employer is prepared to spend money and time on safety.

 Victorian employees indicate it is less easy to get information they need to lodge a claim, with a gradual reduction over the last five years. However they say the process of putting in a claim is becoming simpler, with a 7% reduction in the percentage of employees who say it was complicated or very complicated to lodge a claim over the last five years.
 

Rating of customer services

Insurers service ratings have gradually improved in Victoria. The improvements have been modest, but seen across virtually all areas of insurers service rating. The remain below the national average. The overall average service rating has increased from 3.3/5 to 3.5/5 over the last five years.

Rehabilitation services

Using data from WorkSafe provided to the Return to Work Monitor, the percentage of Victorian employees who have some rehabilitation expenditure as part of their claim cost has increased over the last 12 months.  The result is now up to 30%. The average cost spent was $1800, a modest increase over the last five years.

Previous claim experience

In 2009-10 35% of Victorian employees reported they had had a prior claim. 30% reported they had a previous lost time claim. Both of these are slightly below the national average.