South Australian Current Acts

RETURN TO WORK ACT 2014 - SECT 23

23—Object

        (1)         The object of this Part is to establish a system that seeks to ensure that a worker who suffers a work injury—

            (a)         achieves the best practicable levels of physical and mental recovery; and

            (b)         returns to the worker's pre-injury work or, if that is not reasonably practicable, is in any event restored to the workforce and the community in a timely, safe and durable way.

        (2)         Without limiting subsection (1), the aim is—

            (a)         to intervene and provide services under this Part as early as is reasonably practicable after a worker suffers a work injury; and

            (b)         in connection with paragraph (a)—

                  (i)         to return the worker to work in the worker's pre-injury duties; or

                  (ii)         if it is not reasonably practicable to return the worker to work in the worker's pre-injury duties—to return the worker, either temporarily or permanently, to other suitable duties with the worker's pre-injury employer; or

                  (iii)         if subparagraphs (i) and (ii) are not reasonably practicable—to return the worker, either temporarily or permanently, to work with another employer; or

                  (iv)         if subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) are not reasonably practicable—to maximise the worker's independent functioning as a member of the community; and

            (c)         to ensure that any employer, worker or other person involved in a recovery or return to work process cooperate to achieve the object referred to in subsection (1).

        (3)         This Part may apply to a worker even if it has not been finally established that the worker's injury is a work injury.