Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists can make an important contribution to improving the health and return to work outcomes of injured workers.
Occupational therapists can provide treatment to injured workers and conduct assessments of them to assist Agents to make decisions about the type of help and support they may need as a result of their work-related injury or illness.
This information provides a summary of occupational therapy services and lists relevant resources and publications available.
Occupational therapy treatment
Occupational therapists provide treatment to injured workers with the aim of maximising a worker’s participation and independence in everyday activities at home and in the community. Occupational therapists may use a variety of strategies to achieve this, including:
- assessing the level of help or care that a worker may require as a result of a work-related injury or illness
- recommending exercises to maximise worker function and promote recovery (where possible)
- advising of adaptive and/or alternative techniques to make it easier for a worker to perform activities. For example, breaking strenuous tasks into smaller more manageable tasks
- prescribing equipment that will help maximise a worker’s independence, and
- recommending home or car modifications for workers with complex injuries to maximise a worker’s independence and participation. For example, installing a rail in a bathroom or a spinner knob in a car to help turn the steering wheel.
Occupational therapy treatment can be provided by a network occupational therapist or by a registered WorkSafe occupational therapist in the general community.
For more information, please view the Occupational Therapy Policy and Network Occupational Therapy Policy. Information about WorkSafe’s clinical policies can be found on the Clinical Policy page.
Network occupational therapy treatment
The introduction of network occupational therapy treatment services is part of WorkSafe Victoria’s commitment to achieving better health and return to work outcomes for injured workers.
A network occupational therapist has skills and experience in treating work-related injuries and illnesses that impact upon a worker’s ability to perform everyday activities and return to work.
Network occupational therapists provide an occupational therapy treatment option. Injured workers can choose to access either a network occupational therapist or a registered WorkSafe occupational therapist in the general community.
View WorkSafe’s Network Occupational Therapy Policy for providers.
Locate a network occupational therapist
Network occupational therapists are available in Melbourne and in several regional areas. Please refer to the following lists for further details:
Occupational therapy assessments
Occupational therapists can provide two types of assessments to assist WorkSafe Agents to make decisions about the help an injured worker may need. These are:
- Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Assessments, and
- Benefit and Support Services Assessments (BASSA)
A WorkSafe Agent can request either assessment to review a worker’s needs for the following services:
- household help
- aids and appliances, and equipment
- attendant care support
- home modifications, and
- car modifications.
What is an ADL assessment?
These assessments are conducted by ADL occupational therapists who make recommendations to the WorkSafe Agent about the type of services that may be required to maximise a worker’s independence and participation in everyday activities and in returning to work.
ADL occupational therapists are registered with WorkSafe Victoria and have completed the WorkSafe online assessment training (Household Help Occupational Therapist Assessment Training)
What is a BASSA assessment?
These assessments are conducted by BASSA occupational therapists. BASSA occupational therapists have skills and experience in conducting assessments and making recommendations that assist WorkSafe Agents to make decisions about the level of help and support an injured worker may require.
BASSA occupational therapists have entered into a contract with WorkSafe that has agreed service and reporting timeframes.
Clinical resources
The Clinical Resources page provides information and resources considered useful to clinical practice, including the WorkSafe Clinical Framework and outcome measures.
Forms and publications
-
Occupational therapy assessments - Information for injured workers
- Network occupational therapy - Information for injured workers
- Network occupational therapy - Information for Medical Practitioners
- Network occupational therapy - List of providers (metropolitan Melbourne)
- Network occupational therapy - List of providers (regional Victoria)
- Occupational Therapy - Information and Fee Schedule for Occupational Therapists
- Introducing WorkSafe - A Guide for Allied Healthcare Professionals
- Occupational Therapy Registration Application
- Electronic Funds Transfer Application Form
