National Return to Work 2021 Survey Initial Findings

Safe Work Australia (SWA) has published the 2021 National Return to Work Survey Headline Measures Report.

The report provides an overview of key return to work measures captured in the 2021 National Return to Work Survey – Australia’s only national return to work survey of people who get workers’ compensation for a work-related illness or injury.

The 2021 results, used for national reporting and jurisdictional comparison, show a national returned to work rate of 91.6% and a current return to work rate of 81.3%.

The ‘returned to work rate’ is the proportion of workers who reported they had returned to work since their work-related injury or illness. The ‘current return to work rate’ is the proportion of workers who reported they had returned to work since their work-related injury or illness and were in paid employment at the time of the survey.

SWA CEO Michelle Baxter said the results provide valuable insights for workers’ compensation authorities and other key stakeholders into the return to work process and factors that may influence return to work outcomes.

“The survey gives us a better understanding of the lived experiences of ill and injured workers returning to work, including the important role of the supervisor, co-workers and other supports,” she said.

A more detailed 2021 National Return to Work Survey summary report will be published in early 2022.

Read the 2021 National Return to Work Survey Headline Measures Report.