EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988
Section 34S
Notice of a Disallowable Instrument
Approval of Form of Application for Initial Approval as a Rehabilitation Program Provider (Workplace Rehabilitation Provider)
The purpose of the Instrument to which this Explanatory Statement relates is to approve a new form for an application for approval as a rehabilitation program provider (Approved Application Form) to apply on and from 1 July 2010. The purpose of the form is to collect information needed to assess whether the applicant is suitable to be approved.
Section 37 of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (the SRC Act) provides that a rehabilitation authority (employer) can provide a rehabilitation program to an employee itself or arrange for it to be provided by a rehabilitation program provider that has been approved by Comcare. Section 34S of the SRC Act authorises Comcare to approve the form of an application for approval as a rehabilitation program provider.
The new Approved Application Form, together with the new Criteria for Approval or Renewal of Approval as a Rehabilitation Program Provider determined under section 34D of the SRC Act and new Operational Standards for Rehabilitation Program Providers determined under section 34E of the SRC Act, has been developed in consultation with:
employers to whom the SRC Act applies;
employee representatives;
rehabilitation program providers;
the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission;
the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission; and
the Heads of Workers Compensation Authorities (HWCA)
and implement the nationally consistent provider approval framework developed by HWCA with additional Comcare developed requirements to maintain the integrity and quality of the existing Comcare approval regime.
Applications to Comcare for initial approval must be made on the new Approved Application Form and will be assessed against the new Approval Criteria and Operational Standards.