Returning to work after illness or injury: what to consider
Key takeaways
- How to prepare for returning to work after an illness or injury
- Why a phased return may help you gradually rebuild your work capacity
- What you could include in a return-to-work plan
- How suitable duties and workplace adjustments may support your return
- What financial support may be available while you recover
- How income protection insurance may fit into your broader financial planning
Returning to work after an illness or injury can be a significant milestone. You might be looking forward to getting back into a routine and reconnecting with colleagues, while also wondering how your health, energy levels and workload will hold up.
You may not need to return to your usual hours and responsibilities straight away. Depending on your health and circumstances, a gradual and carefully planned return may help you rebuild your capacity while continuing your recovery.
There can also be financial considerations. Time away from work or a temporary reduction in your hours may affect your income, which makes it useful to understand the support available to you and how insurance may fit into your plans.
Here are some of the things to consider as you prepare to return to work.
Start with your health professional’s advice
Safe Work Australia describes return-to-work planning as a process that can involve preparation, a written plan, suitable duties, workplace adjustments and regular reviews.
Before returning after an illness or injury, consider discussing your job with your treating doctor or another relevant health professional. They can help you understand what you may be able to do safely, what activities you may need to avoid and whether you require a certificate of capacity or medical clearance.
Consider taking your job description, roster or a list of your usual duties to your appointment. This can help your health professional understand the demands of your job, including lifting, driving, prolonged standing, screen time, customer contact or high-pressure tasks.
Keep reading: How to stay active at the office and improve your health
Understand what a phased return to work may involve
A phased return means gradually returning to work rather than immediately resuming your previous hours and duties.
What this looks like will depend on your health, your role and your workplace. It could include:
- working shorter hours or fewer days initially
- changing your start or finish times
- taking on lighter or modified duties
- having more frequent breaks
- working from home where appropriate
- temporarily avoiding particular physical tasks
- gradually increasing your hours or responsibilities
- having regular check-ins with your manager or return-to-work coordinator
A phased return is not a sign that you are falling behind. It can be a practical way to support your recovery while keeping you connected to work.
Keep reading: Important health checks for every decade of your life
Work with your employer on a return-to-work plan
A return-to-work plan is a written document setting out how you will return to work, the duties you will perform, any adjustments you may need and when the arrangements will be reviewed.
Safe Work Australia’s guidance referenced in the original draft divides return-to-work planning into three broad stages: prepare, draft the plan, then implement and review it. It also recognises that a plan may need to change as a worker’s recovery progresses.
Know your rights and support options
The support available to you will depend on your circumstances, including whether your illness or injury is work-related, where you live, your employment arrangements and whether you have a workers compensation claim. myGov states there are various programs, resources and support available for people returning to work after being sick or injured.
If your injury or illness is work-related, your employer, insurer, claims manager, rehabilitation provider or return to work coordinator may be involved. Not all illnesses or injuries that affect your ability to work are work-related. If your condition is not covered by a workers compensation scheme, other sources of financial support, including eligible insurance benefits, may be available depending on your circumstances.
myGov notes that for workers compensation claimants, employers manage recovery at work, and the worker should be consulted about any rehabilitation program.
Workers’ compensation rules vary across Australia, so it may help to check the guidance for your state or territory or seek support from a relevant workplace, insurance or legal service.
Think about your income while you recover
Time away from work can affect your household budget, especially if your income has reduced or medical costs have increased.
The Real Concerns Report 2025 found that financial issues, including cost of living and economic uncertainty, remain the top concern for over half of Australians. This is one reason financial planning can be useful when returning to work after illness or injury.
It may be worth reviewing:
- any workers compensation payments
- sick leave, annual leave or unpaid leave arrangements
- medical and rehabilitation expenses
- transport costs if your commute changes
- household bills and debt repayments
- whether you have insurance cover that may be relevant.
If you hold income protection insurance, it's important to understand how any benefits payable under your policy may interact with other income sources, including workers compensation payments. Refer to your Product Disclosure Statement for details.
How income protection insurance may provide financial support
If illness or injury leaves you unable to work, Real Income Protection Insurance may help provide financial support while you focus on your recovery.
Depending on your cover, it may provide a benefit if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. Any benefit payable may be affected by other income replacement benefits you receive, including workers compensation payments. This could help with everyday expenses and ongoing financial commitments while you’re away from work.
Learn more:
Keep wellbeing front and centre
Returning to work is about more than your physical ability to perform a job. You may also experience fatigue, stress or uncertainty as you adjust, particularly after a long period away.
Simple steps may make the transition easier to manage. Depending on your circumstances, you could:
- plan your first week carefully
- keep your routine manageable at first
- allow time to rest after work
- avoid taking on too many commitments at once
- keep track of symptoms or factors affecting your recovery
- check in regularly with your manager or support person
Safe Work Australia’s Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2025 shows that mental health conditions accounted for 12% of all serious workers compensation claims in 2023–24 preliminary data, with the median time lost from work almost five times that recorded across all other injuries and diseases. This highlights why wellbeing can play an important role in returning to work, alongside physical recovery and practical workplace support.
Real Insurance’s Real Jobs of the Future Report 2026 also found that 76% of Australians believe mental health and wellbeing are now central to career choices, showing how important wellbeing has become in the way people think about work.
Explore your options
Returning to work after an illness or injury can be an important part of moving forward, but you do not necessarily need to resume everything at once.
Real Income Protection Insurance is designed to help provide financial support if you're unable to work due to an illness or injury, depending on the circumstances.
If you’d like to understand how income protection insurance works, you can learn more about Real Income Protection Insurance and request a quote online.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a return-to-work plan?
You may need one if you are returning after an illness or injury, including where a workers compensation claim is involved. Even if your illness or injury did not happen at work, a written plan can help clarify duties, hours, adjustments and review dates.
What are suitable duties after an injury?
Suitable duties are tasks that fit your current work capacity. They may be your usual duties with changes, lighter tasks, different hours or temporary alternative duties. They should be guided by medical advice and reviewed as your recovery changes.
Can my employer contact me while I am off work sick or injured?
In many cases, reasonable contact can help with planning and support. Communication should be respectful and focused on your wellbeing and recovery. If you are unsure about what is appropriate, it may help to check your workplace policy or seek advice.
What if I cannot return to my old job?
If your previous role is not suitable or available, other options may be considered. These could include modified duties, another role, retraining or a different employment pathway, depending on your capacity, workplace and relevant compensation rules.
Can I return to work before I am fully recovered?
Sometimes, yes, if your doctor says it is safe and your duties can be adjusted. A gradual return may support recovery for some people, but it should be realistic and based on your health, capacity and workplace conditions.
7 Oct 2026