WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IS ILL OR INJURED

Practical return-to-work arrangements that support the employee, the business and the broader team

What happens when an employee becomes ill or injured? Do you know what your responsibilities are as an employer, where to turn for help, and how to support their return to work?

For small businesses, managing an employee's illness or injury can be challenging, particularly when you don't have a dedicated HR team or experience navigating workers' compensation claims.

Whether an injury happens at work or an employee becomes unwell outside the workplace, knowing what to do can make a significant difference to the employee, your business and the rest of your team.

Join the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee (RJC) for a practical employer education webinar featuring specialists from WorkCover Queensland, Mater and People & Culture Consulting.

We'll explain the processes, responsibilities and practical steps employers can take to confidently manage employee illness, injury, recovery and return to work.

What you'll learn

Workers' compensation made simple: Understand your WorkCover insurance obligations, what happens when an employee is injured at work, how claims are managed and where to find support.
Supporting employees through recovery: Learn how to maintain appropriate contact, support wellbeing and manage sensitive health information.
Planning a safe return to work: Understand suitable duties, gradual returns, workplace adjustments and practical planning, even with a very small team.
Managing the impact on your business: Explore ways to manage workloads, support colleagues and keep your business operating during an employee's absence.
When an illness or injury isn't work-related: Understand the different HR considerations, leave arrangements and employer responsibilities.
Psychological injury and mental health: Learn about important considerations when managing psychological injury, psychosocial risks and prolonged absences.
Knowing where to get help: Discover trusted resources and when to seek specialist advice.

Meet our presenters

Morgan Galvin – Senior Account Manager, WorkCover Queensland

Morgan and the WorkCover Queensland team will explain workers' compensation fundamentals, employer obligations, the claims process, supporting recovery and accessing WorkCover resources.

Mitch Muscat – Senior Injury Management Specialist, Mater

Mitch will share a practical employer perspective on supporting employees through illness and injury, managing absences and facilitating safe, sustainable returns to work, including approaches smaller businesses can adopt.

Des Kerr – Chair, Redlands Regional Jobs Committee | People & Culture Consulting

Drawing on more than 20 years of HR experience, Des will explore the people-management side, including non-work-related illness, psychological health, supporting the broader team and practical small-business examples.

Who should attend?

This webinar is particularly relevant for:

Small and micro business owners
Employers and business managers
Supervisors and team leaders
HR and people-management professionals
Anyone responsible for supporting employees through illness, injury or return to work

No specialist HR knowledge is required. The session is designed to provide straightforward, practical information employers can understand and apply.

Event details

Date: Tuesday 17 November 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am AEST (Queensland time)
Location: Online via Zoom
Format: Expert presentations followed by an interactive Q&A

There will be an opportunity to ask questions of our presenters.

Supporting your people supports your business

A key message from WorkCover Queensland is:

“It's ALL of us against the injury. It's not us against each other.”

Join us to learn how to navigate employee illness and injury with greater confidence and create a supportive, safe and productive workplace.

Register today to secure your place!

This webinar provides general information and practical guidance, not individual legal, medical or financial advice. The session will be recorded and shared through the RJC Webinar Library.

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