Acute - subacute low back pain factsheet [203KB]

Information about red and yellow flags for workers compensation injuries is provided in this resource.

A guide to assessing and managing red and yellow flags [268KB]

A proactive approach to return to work [294KB]

The clinical framework provides a set of guiding principles developed to assist physiotherapists in the management of injured workers. These principles are based on a combination of the best available research evidence and consensus clinical opinion.
This initiative is the result of collaboration between WorkCover, the Physiotherapy Association (SA Branch), WorkCover’s Physiotherapy Reference Group and Employers Mutual. It is also part of WorkCover’s ongoing quality improvement program and commitment to working in partnership with the physiotherapy community to achieve its vision of providing injured workers with the best possible recovery and the fastest possible return to work.

Clinical framework - for the delivery of physiotherapy services to injured workers [550KB]

The clinical justification flowchart has been developed to help you determine a course of action. This has been developed based on the Australian Physiotherapy Association's ‘Position statement on clinical justification’ and a model developed by the Transport Accident Commission of Victoria.

Clinical justification flowchart [576KB]

In 2006, WorkCoverSA commissioned LaTrobe University to undertake a literature review of research into facilitators and barriers to return to work. Access the full report here:

Facilitators and barriers to return to work: a literature review [449KB]

Review of health care infrastructure: SA WorkCover (April 2005) [427KB]

Health Provider Satisfaction Survey 2008 [249KB]
Providers survey: Summary of findings (August 2007) [95KB]

This resource has been developed to refer to when considering use of radiology.

Imaging guidelines [95KB]

This document provides information about the role and responsibilities of workplace rehabilitation service providers and sections of the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1986 (‘the Act’) relevant to workplace rehabilitation.

Information on workplace rehabilitation for workers compensation patients [45KB]

These fact sheets have been developed as resources for health providers to give to injured workers. The information contained in the fact sheets is based on existing national and international guidelines. The fact sheets provide the worker with best practice care information about their injury and promote self-management strategies.

There are four fact sheets which may be downloaded and given to the injured worker:

Caring for your soft tissue injury (sprain/strain) [329KB]

Caring for your low back pain [436KB]

Caring for your shoulder pain [397KB]

Caring for your knee sprain/strain [453KB]

Job analysis executive summary [78KB]

In May 2006 WorkCover presented a seminar, in conjunction with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Faculty of Pain Medicine, on the management and treatment of pain.
The seminar Living and working with pain was recorded live and a DVD of the proceeding is available.

Run time: approximately 140 minutes
Cost: FREE

Speakers covered these topics:
Dr Carolyn Arnold, Clinical Director of the Caulfield Pain Management and Research Centre, Melbourne, presented an overview on managing chronic pain and how the holistic principles which recognise medical, physical, psychological, environmental and vocational factors need to be considered because the traditional approach, which follows "sequential' treatment, has little impact.

Dr David Champion, Director of Pain Research Unit, Sydney Children's Hospital, explored how childhood, adolescence and family influences can impact the risk of chronic pain in adults, including looking at the increasing evidence that support this.

Dr Dilip Kapur, Senior Consultant in Pain management at Flinders Medical Centre, presented on the potential for over medication of patients with chronic pain and its adverse outcomes, and the need for practitioners to be resilient against inappropriate prescribing based on pain behaviour, threats and distress.

Dr Malcolm Hogg, Head of Pain Services, Melbourne Health, explained the impact that technology has had through the use of implants but also cautioned its use because of the potential for serious side affects and that it should be reserved for only extreme case and after rigorous assessment.

Dr Chris Hayes, Director of Hunter Integrated Pain Service in Newcastle, then led a lively hypothetical scenario and panel discussion. The panel incorporated all the presenters and included Dr Patricia Montanaro, WorkCover's General Practitioner consultant.

Dr Ian Steven, WorkCover Medical Consultant concluded with a presentation on the compensation and chronic pain statistics for South Australia.

Managing acute - subacute low back pain [2000KB]

Occupational therapy - Clinical occupational therapy functional estimation form [111KB]
Occupational therapy - Clinical occupational therapy functional estimation form (sample) [105KB]
Occupational therapy - Functional estimation form (case study) [54KB]
OT 785 confirmation Facsimile transmission [61KB]

Occupational therapy functional capacity evaluation (FCE) executive summary [78KB]

Click here to access other WorkCover publications and forms.

Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) [33KB]

Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) [45KB]

Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) [35KB]

Neck Disability Index [35KB]

Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPQ) [33KB]

Oswestry Low Back Disability Questionnaire [37KB]

Patient-Specific Functional Scale [18KB]

The Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale [28KB]

Roland Morris Low Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire (RMQ) [16KB]

Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) [35KB]

Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI)

Visual Analogue Scale [15KB]

Physiotherapy forms information package [90KB]

Physiotherapy functional notification form [414KB]

Physiotherapy treatment form [462KB]