Published Thursday, 01 March, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
MOVE TO NATIONAL TRAINING STANDARDS FOR WORKPLACE REHABILITATION COORDINATORS
The Queensland Government plans to strengthen the State workers’ compensation system by improving training and accreditation of rehabilitation and return to work coordinators.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel released a Regulatory Impact Statement today outlining proposed amendments to the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Regulation 2003 that will enable Queensland to adopt national training standards for these coordinators.
Mr Mickel said workplace injury and disease is a serious risk to the Queensland economy that costs around $4.7 billion annually.
“The longer an injured person is on workers’ compensation the greater the cost to themselves, the employer and the community,” Mr Mickel said.
“Under Queensland laws employers are required to appoint a coordinator to develop return to work plans for injured workers, so we want to make sure people in this critical coordination role get the best possible training.
“We plan to transfer responsibility for the accreditation of the coordinators’ course and training providers from Q-COMP, Queensland’s workers’ compensation scheme regulator, to the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.
“Q-COMP will continue to oversee the development and auditing of the course content and retain responsibility for coordinator registration. However, the course will be delivered through registered training organisations.
“This will result in a significantly more effective and nationally-consistent training and accreditation system.”
Mr Mickel said it is also proposed that:
• coordinators must get their credentials recertified every three years to keep their skills up to date
• employers in high-risk industries must appoint a coordinator if they have an annual payroll of $1.5 million (currently 30 or more workers).
“The benefits for employers of implementing effective return to work plans include less down time and lost productivity; reduced absenteeism and shortage of skilled workers; reduced training costs and use of casual staff; reduced claims costs and lower workers’ compensation insurance premiums; and improved industrial relations and workplace morale.
“For workers the benefits include faster recovery and reduced suffering; minimal disruption to family, social and working life; improved physical condition, confidence and self-esteem about returning to work; earlier return to productive work; and job and financial security.”
Copies of the Regulatory Impact Statement can be obtained:
• from the department’s website at www.deir.qld.gov.au
• by emailing whsqris@deir.qld.gov.au or
• or by calling (07) 3235 4567.
Submissions close on 23 March, 2007.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel released a Regulatory Impact Statement today outlining proposed amendments to the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Regulation 2003 that will enable Queensland to adopt national training standards for these coordinators.
Mr Mickel said workplace injury and disease is a serious risk to the Queensland economy that costs around $4.7 billion annually.
“The longer an injured person is on workers’ compensation the greater the cost to themselves, the employer and the community,” Mr Mickel said.
“Under Queensland laws employers are required to appoint a coordinator to develop return to work plans for injured workers, so we want to make sure people in this critical coordination role get the best possible training.
“We plan to transfer responsibility for the accreditation of the coordinators’ course and training providers from Q-COMP, Queensland’s workers’ compensation scheme regulator, to the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.
“Q-COMP will continue to oversee the development and auditing of the course content and retain responsibility for coordinator registration. However, the course will be delivered through registered training organisations.
“This will result in a significantly more effective and nationally-consistent training and accreditation system.”
Mr Mickel said it is also proposed that:
• coordinators must get their credentials recertified every three years to keep their skills up to date
• employers in high-risk industries must appoint a coordinator if they have an annual payroll of $1.5 million (currently 30 or more workers).
“The benefits for employers of implementing effective return to work plans include less down time and lost productivity; reduced absenteeism and shortage of skilled workers; reduced training costs and use of casual staff; reduced claims costs and lower workers’ compensation insurance premiums; and improved industrial relations and workplace morale.
“For workers the benefits include faster recovery and reduced suffering; minimal disruption to family, social and working life; improved physical condition, confidence and self-esteem about returning to work; earlier return to productive work; and job and financial security.”
Copies of the Regulatory Impact Statement can be obtained:
• from the department’s website at www.deir.qld.gov.au
• by emailing whsqris@deir.qld.gov.au or
• or by calling (07) 3235 4567.
Submissions close on 23 March, 2007.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784