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Executive summary:

Tasmanian return to work rates continue to outperform the national average.

Tasmania has a lower proportion of large workplaces than many other jurisdictions. Large workplaces tend to do better with return to work, so Tasmania's above average performance stands out.

There are higher levels of unemployment in Tasmania and that means people in the workforce may be more focused on retaining their job. In turn, that may help the return to work results.

Over the last two years both the return to work and durable return to work rates in Tasmania have declined. This is seen in the questions about whether an individual who has had a claim has ever returned to work, and whether they are at work at the time of the survey. It is also seen in the percentage of people still receiving compensation payments at the time the survey is done.

There has been a gradual increase in the percentage of employees saying their employer has made return to work harder. There has also been a gradual increase in the percentage of employees saying their main supervisor made return to work harder, and the ditto for the insurer making return to work harder.

In earlier Return To Work Monitors there has been a correlation between low rates of durable return to work and employees identifying someone made the return to work harder. This is again seen in the Tasmanian figures.

Tasmania has introduced a series of changes to injury management over the last few years. These changes may not be yet fully bedded down and we will watch the return to work rates in Tasmania in the coming years with interest.

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