Workplace Rehabilitation Panel

Overview The Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (ACT) is seeking to establish Deeds of Standing Offer with a panel of up to eight (8) suitably qualified and Comcare-approved Workplace Rehabilitation Providers (the Panel) to deliver workplace rehabilitation services for ACT Public Service (ACTPS) employees in specific circumstances. About The Workplace Rehabilitation Team has been operational since 2024 and is staffed by suitably qualified ACTPS health professionals who provide rehabilitation services in support of ACTPS workers' compensation claims. As these services are delivered internally by ACTPS officers, no external accreditation or approval is required for the Workplace Rehabilitation Services (WRS) team to undertake this work. Notwithstanding the establishment of this internal capability, there remains an ongoing operational requirement to engage external Workplace Rehabilitation Providers in specific circumstances, including where injured former ACTPS employees reside interstate, where injury complexity or clinical considerations necessitate independent external assessment, and/or where workplace or interpersonal factors make internal service delivery inappropriate. Workers' compensation for ACTPS employees is provided under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act). The ACT Government is recognised as a Commonwealth Authority for the purposes of the SRC Act and became a self-insurer on 1 March 2019. Under Section 41A of the SRC Act, the Work Safety Group (WSG) within the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (CMTEDD) is required to undertake rehabilitation of injured or ill ACT Government employees. Partnering with the University of Canberra (UC), the Injury Management teams ensure the appointment, management and approval of rehabilitation services are achieved. Workplace rehabilitation services are also delivered for non-compensable matters to support ACTPS employees who are injured or ill. Objectives The objective of this contract is to ensure injured and ill ACTPS employees have timely access to fit for purpose, high quality workplace rehabilitation services that support safe, sustainable and cost effective return to work outcomes, while enabling the Territory to engage providers easily, consistently and with appropriate assurance of performance, value and compliance. Scope The scope includes: Supporting the Territory's compliance with its obligations under the SRC Act Providing high quality services defined as better practice for injured and ill ACTPS employees and the Territory Providing services to support ACTPS WHS and Wellbeing initiatives Delivering culturally safe services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander public sector employees Delivering services in alignment with the Principles of Practice for Workplace Rehabilitation Providers as set out by the Heads of Workers' Compensation (HWCA) Assessing injured or ill ACTPS employees' rehabilitation needs and their capability of undertaking a rehabilitation program (Section 36 of the SRC Act) Developing and implementing tailored rehabilitation programs in consultation with relevant stakeholders (Section 37 of the SRC Act) Assessing workplaces, workstations, activities of daily living and worker functional capacity, vocational assessments and transferable skills assessments Injury adjustment counselling Work Health Safety and Wellbeing support services Other assessments, training or rehabilitation support and intervention, including wellbeing assessments, as required by the Territory, which, for compensable matters, must align with the Principles of Practice for Workplace Rehabilitation Providers (September 2019) Contractor Requirements Suitably qualified and Comcare-approved as a Workplace Rehabilitation Provider Services must be delivered in accordance with the Territory's Guide for Workplace Rehabilitation Providers (October 2019), as set out in Appendix A Contract Terms and Conditions Deeds of Standing Offer will be established with a panel of up to eight (8) suppliers Enquiries Contact: Tenders ACT Team Phone: +61 (02) 62079000 Email: tendersact@act.gov.au