Results from the 2021 National Return to Work Survey released

Results from the 2021 National Return to Work Survey Released

Safe Work Australia has released results from the 2021 National Return to Work Survey, offering fresh insight into how injured and ill workers experience recovery and reintegration into employment.

The findings show 81.3% of surveyed workers reported they had returned to work at some point since their injury or illness and were currently working. This edition of the survey also captured how external pressures, such as the pandemic, shaped recovery outcomes for employees across various industries.

Impact of COVID-19 on Recovery and Return to Work

Respondents were asked about the impact of COVID-19 on their recovery and return to work — around 73% of workers said the pandemic had no impact on their case management or overall progress.

This suggests most workplace management systems and support services managed to maintain continuity throughout disruptions caused by the health crisis, allowing recovery pathways to stay largely on track despite broader uncertainty affecting workplaces across Australia.

About the National Return to Work Survey

Conducted every two years, the National Return to Work Survey monitors ill and injured workers to better understand their experiences with workers' compensation services and the factors influencing successful return outcomes.

Findings from each cycle help employers, insurers, and policymakers refine management approaches for workplace injury cases, improving how compensation services respond to worker needs. Since injured workers report returning to employment sooner when support services are proactive, survey data plays a critical role in shaping national policy.

Findings from this survey directly inform initiatives such as those outlined in our article on the mid-term assessment of the National Return to Work Strategy 2020–2030, which tracks long-term progress across Australia's compensation systems.

Why These Survey Results Matter for Workplace Health and Safety

For safety professionals in construction, manufacturing, and healthcare, understanding return-to-work trends supports better planning of injury management frameworks and rehabilitation services. Employers who track these outcomes can strengthen internal management practices, ensure compliant claims handling, and improve health outcomes for their workforce.

Organisations seeking practical tools can refer to our Return to Work Plan resource, which supports structured case management for injured employees. Businesses reviewing their compliance documentation may also benefit from our Return to Work Policy template, designed to align with current management standards.

Supporting Consistent Case Management Across Industries

Consistent case management across compensation services helps injured workers regain confidence and stability throughout recovery. Strong management practices reduce delays in claims processing and support better communication between employers, insurers, and health providers.

Many organisations use structured management plans, such as the Return to Work Plan template, to formalise recovery steps and ensure accountability throughout each stage of an employee's return.

Effective claims management also depends on timely access to compensation services, clear documentation, and coordinated support between all parties involved in an employee's recovery journey.

Where to Access the Full Report

Businesses, safety officers, and researchers can visit Safe Work Australia's official website to download the full 2021 National Return to Work Survey report and review detailed survey results across all Australian jurisdictions.

For further updates on national research initiatives, readers can also explore results of the 2025 National Return to Work Survey, published as part of ongoing efforts to monitor workplace recovery trends nationwide.

Key Takeaways

• 81.3% of surveyed workers had returned to work at some point since their injury or illness.
• Around 73% reported the pandemic had no impact on their recovery.
• The survey is conducted every two years to track return-to-work trends nationally.
• Findings support improvements to compensation services, claims management, and rehabilitation planning across Australia.

Staying informed about national survey findings helps safety professionals strengthen management systems, refine compensation services, and support better health outcomes for workers recovering from workplace injuries. For related compliance updates, see our article on the Safety Around Your Vehicle Compliance Project launched by SafeWork NSW, published alongside this survey's release.