New national survey reveals drop in successful workplace reintegration following injury

Safe Work Australia has published findings from its 2025 National Return to Work Survey, showing the national return to work rate decreased to 88.9% from 91.6% in 2021 NSW Government.

The biennial survey provides insights into the experiences of injured workers and their employers across Australia’s workers’ compensation system, measuring progress against the National Return to Work Strategy 2020-2030.

Physical injuries show better outcomes than psychological conditions

The survey revealed a significant gap between injury types, with workers suffering physical injuries achieving a 90.2% return to work rate compared to just 76.5% for those with psychological injuries NSW Government.

Most workers (64.7%) returned to their original duties, but only 53.4% resumed their previous working hours, representing a decline from 58.1% in 2021 NSW Government.

Early employer intervention linked to better outcomes

The research identified that injured workers were more likely to successfully return to work when employers actively helped manage the injury or illness before a formal compensation claim was lodged NSW Government.

This finding underscores the importance of early workplace support and proactive injury management in facilitating successful reintegration.

The survey results are available through Safe Work Australia’s interactive data dashboard, allowing stakeholders to explore detailed findings across different demographics, industries, and injury types. The data will inform policy development and help improve support systems for injured workers across Australian jurisdictions.