Injured workers deserve better: Unions welcome independent review of Return to Work scheme

The independent review of the Return to Work scheme announced today is an opportunity to build a workers’ compensation system that puts injured workers first and treats them as people, not just claims numbers.

In 2022, workers were blindsided by a Government bill that would have stripped important protections from injured workers. Unions campaigned against that bill and successfully defended the principle that workers should be fairly compensated for complications from workplace injuries. Following that campaign by SA Unions, workers secured a commitment from the South Australian Government to undertake a thorough review of the scheme in 2027.

The Return to Work scheme is supposed to support injured workers with income support, medical treatment, and rehabilitation so they can recover and return to safe, meaningful work.

But the Return to Work scheme is failing injured workers. People hurt by their work are being ignored, denied medical treatment and services, and driven into poverty.

Medical treatment and income support are routinely cut off while workers are still injured and need support. Basic requests for mobility aids and handrails are often unfairly denied. Gaps in the scheme mean that gig workers have no access to workers compensation and workers who get injured on their way to work or during off-site breaks receive no support.

New mothers who get hurt while returning from parental leave get stranded on part-time hours and reduced pay even when they were progressing back to full-time work.

The process of seeking help through the scheme routinely inflicts new psychiatric injuries on already injured workers.

Workers and their unions are calling for a scheme that listens to injured workers, guarantees them security and dignity, has the resources to provide appropriate support, and prevents injuries before they happen.

This review is an opportunity to fix South Australia’s broken workers’ compensation system and ensure injured workers get the support they need to recover and rebuild their lives.

Background

• Income support payments for almost all injured workers stop after 104 weeks, regardless of whether they have recovered and returned to work. On average, 370 injured workers are kicked off income support each year while still injured and unable to work (ReturnToWorkSA, 2025).
• Support for medical expenses stops completely after three years, forcing many workers to pay out of pocket or go without ongoing treatment and services they need to maintain their capacity and stay at work.
• 95 per cent of workers who are assessed as having permanent physical impairments still don’t meet the threshold for ongoing financial support (RetutnToWorkSA, 2025).
• “Self-insured” private companies which are allowed to manage their own workers’ compensation matters reject claims at a rate almost four times higher than the scheme average (ReturnToWorkSA, 2025).

Quotes attributable to SA Unions Secretary Dale Beasley

“The Return to Work scheme should help injured workers recover and return to meaningful work. Instead, too many workers are left fighting for the treatment and support they need, when their focus should be on getting better.

“Injured workers are being stripped of their voice, autonomy and dignity by a scheme that too often fails to deliver on its fundamental purpose: helping them recover and return to work.

“The union movement fought hard to secure this independent review, and we welcome today’s announcement that it’s finally getting underway. But a review alone is not enough. After years of campaigning by unions and workers, the State Government must honour its commitment and deliver meaningful reform that puts injured workers first.”

Quotes attributable to Jessica, Early Childhood Teacher

“I’ve done everything to build my capacity and get back to work, I’m pouring myself into my rehab and recovery, but I’m not there yet. After two years, the income support stops entirely.

I am counting down the days because I honestly don’t know how I can continue to support myself and my family.

It’s scary and it feels unfair that through a pure accident at work my financial security potentially for the rest of my life has been impacted.

Quotes attributable to Melissa, Disability Support Worker

“After my initial claim was rejected, I had to lodge an appeal with the employment tribunal just to get some modifications at home to help with my recovery.

I won, but it was frustrating to see more money spent on legal fees fighting my claim than it would have cost just to provide the equipment in the first place.

Injured workers shouldn’t have to go through a legal battle to get the support they’re entitled to.