Getting Back to Work After an Injury: What Your GP and Physio Need to Do

Getting back to work after an injury is not just about getting better. There is the paperwork, the insurer, your employer, the question of what you can and cannot do, and figuring out who is responsible for what. If you have never been through a WorkCover claim before, it can feel like a lot of moving parts to track at once. If you need medical support during your recovery, you can visit our Albion medical clinic for WorkCover assessments and ongoing GP care.

Your GP and your physiotherapist are the two main clinical providers in most workplace injury recoveries. They do different things, but they need to work together for the return-to-work process to go smoothly. This article explains what each one does, how they coordinate, and what you can do to keep things moving without the process dragging on longer than it needs to.

The First Step: Seeing Your GP After a Workplace Injury

If you have been injured at work, seeing a GP as soon as possible is the most important thing you can do. Not just for your health, but for the whole claims process. Your GP is the one who certifies your capacity for work, which is the document your employer and insurer use to understand what you can do and what you cannot while you recover. For information on lodging a WorkCover claim, visit WorkSafe Queensland.

What your GP does at that first appointment

At your initial appointment following a workplace injury, your GP will:

• Assess your injury, order any necessary imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, MRI), and document the clinical picture
• Issue a workers compensation medical certificate, which outlines your current capacity for work, any restrictions, and when they expect to review you next
• Start a WorkCover claim if one has not already been started by your employer, or add to an existing one
• Refer you to physiotherapy or other allied health services if they are clinically needed
• Prescribe pain relief or other medications if appropriate

The medical certificate is not just a sick note. It specifies whether you are fit for work with restrictions (for example, no heavy lifting or sitting for no more than 30 minutes at a time), fit for suitable duties, or not fit for work at all. This document drives what happens next with your employer and the insurer, so it is worth making sure your GP has a clear picture of what your job actually involves. Tell them what your normal duties are, not just your job title.

What the GP Does Throughout Your Recovery

Recovery from a workplace injury is not a one-appointment process. Your GP plays an ongoing role as your treating doctor, which means they are not just certifying your capacity at the start: they are reviewing it regularly and adjusting as you improve.

Regular certificates and reviews

WorkCover certificates have an expiry date, usually anywhere from one to four weeks. You need to see your GP before each one expires to get a new certificate. If you let a certificate lapse, there can be gaps in your claim that create problems with the insurer later. Set a reminder for yourself, or ask your GP’s reception team to help you schedule the next appointment before you leave.

Monitoring your progress

At each review, your GP assesses whether your capacity has changed. If you are improving, the restrictions on your certificate may change: for example, you might go from ‘not fit for work’ to ‘fit for suitable duties’, or from ‘suitable duties only’ to ‘full duties’. If you are not improving as expected, your GP may order further investigations or refer you to a specialist.

Coordinating with the physio

Your GP should know what the physiotherapist is doing and vice versa. At One Health Clinics Albion, the physiotherapy practice (Brisbane Physiotherapy, Jack Peoples) is in the same building as the GP clinic, which makes this easier. But even if they are not in the same location, your GP and physio should be exchanging notes or letters so they are not working in opposite directions.

If your physio has found that a certain movement is still too limited to return to a particular task, your GP needs to know that before they write a certificate saying you can do it. If you are progressing faster than expected, it is worth your physio communicating that to your GP so the certificate reflects reality.

The return-to-work plan

In Queensland, a return-to-work plan is a document that outlines what work you can do now, what the steps are toward your pre-injury duties, and the timeline for getting there. Your employer is required to have one in place. Your GP’s certificates feed directly into this: the restrictions they specify are what shape what ‘suitable duties’ looks like for you.

If your employer offers you duties that go beyond what your GP has certified you can do, you are not obliged to accept them. But if your GP has certified you as fit for suitable duties and your employer has made a reasonable offer that fits within those restrictions, you are generally expected to try. Your GP can update the certificate if the offered duties turn out to be more difficult than expected once you are back.

Related reading: What to Expect at Your First GP Appointment in Brisbane

What the Physiotherapist Does

Physiotherapy is usually the primary treatment for musculoskeletal workplace injuries: back injuries, shoulder injuries, repetitive strain injuries, sprains and strains, and similar presentations. The physio’s job is not to certify your capacity (that’s the GP’s role) but to actually treat the injury and get you physically capable of doing your job again.

The initial physio assessment

At your first physiotherapy appointment, the physio will do a thorough assessment of the injured area: range of movement, strength, pain behaviour, functional limitations. They will ask about your job and what it involves, because treatment is not abstract: it is aimed at getting you back to doing specific things that your work requires.

Brisbane Physiotherapy at Albion Central takes an evidence-based approach focused on rehabilitation and building strength and confidence in movement, not just short-term pain relief. For a return-to-work context this matters, because the goal is not just that you feel better: it is that you can actually do the things your job requires.

What treatment looks like

Physiotherapy for workplace injuries typically involves a combination of:

• Manual therapy: hands-on treatment to reduce pain and improve movement in the affected area
• Exercise rehabilitation: a progressive programme to build the strength, mobility, and endurance you need to return to your duties
• Education: understanding your injury, what aggravates it, and what you can do between sessions to support your recovery
• Functional assessments: testing specific movements or tasks to see where you are relative to what your job requires

How often you see the physio depends on the nature and severity of the injury. Most people are seen once or twice a week initially, with frequency reducing as you improve. Under WorkCover, physiotherapy sessions are covered by the insurer up to certain limits: your GP or WorkCover case manager can clarify what is approved for your claim.

Communicating back to the GP

A physio who is part of your return-to-work process should be reporting back to your GP. This might be a written note or a letter at key intervals: when you first start, when there is a significant change, or when you are approaching the point of returning to full duties. If your GP is not getting updates from your physio, it is worth asking both providers to make sure the communication is happening. It affects what goes on your medical certificate.

Related reading: What Can a Physiotherapist in Albion Actually Help With?

How the GP and Physio Work Together

The two providers have different roles but the same goal: getting you back to work safely. Here is a practical summary of who does what.

Your GP	Your Physiotherapist
Certifies your capacity for work	Treats the injury and builds your functional capacity
Issues WorkCover medical certificates	Provides treatment reports to the insurer and GP
Refers you to physio and other specialists	Communicates progress and restrictions to your GP
Coordinates your overall medical care	Designs your rehabilitation program
Orders imaging and investigations	Tests your functional ability for specific work tasks
Reviews and updates work restrictions over time	Progresses your exercises as you improve
Coordinates with your employer and insurer	Recommends when you are physically ready to increase duties

The point where things go wrong in return-to-work cases is usually communication. If your GP certifies you as fit for light duties but your physio knows your shoulder still cannot manage overhead work, and that has not been conveyed to the GP before the certificate was written, your employer might offer you tasks you physically cannot do safely. The fix is simple: make sure both providers know what the other is saying, and if in doubt, tell them both what you are being asked to do before you do it.

When Things Are Not Going to Plan

Most workplace injury recoveries follow a reasonably predictable course. But sometimes they do not, and it helps to know what to do when that happens.

Your injury is not improving

If you are several weeks into treatment and not making progress, your GP should know. They may want to order further imaging, refer you to a specialist, or reassess the treatment approach. Do not wait until your physio brings it up: mention it to your GP at your next certificate review.

You are being asked to do more than you can manage

If your employer offers suitable duties and you find they are beyond what you can physically manage, contact your GP as soon as possible. Your GP can update your certificate to reflect the accurate restrictions. Do not push through work that is causing you more pain or re-injury risk: this almost always makes the recovery longer, not shorter.

You are ready to go back but your employer has not arranged it

If your GP has certified you as fit for suitable duties or full duties and your employer has not arranged a return-to-work, this is a problem your WorkCover case manager should know about. Your GP’s certificate sets your medical readiness: the employer’s obligation to provide suitable work is a separate matter, and the insurer can be involved if there is a dispute.

The mental health side

Workplace injuries affect mental health more often than people expect. Being off work, dealing with pain, navigating a system that does not always feel like it is on your side, worrying about your job security or income: these are real stressors. If you are finding it difficult to cope, mention it to your GP. It is not a separate issue: it is part of the injury and it affects your recovery.

If needed, your GP can arrange a Mental Health Care Plan and refer you to a psychologist as part of your recovery. At Albion Central, there is also a clinical psychologist and sport and exercise psychologist in the building.

Practical Tips for Managing Your Recovery

• Keep every certificate active. Do not let your WorkCover certificate lapse. Book your next GP review before the current one expires.
• Bring your claim number to every appointment. The GP, physio, and any other treating provider will need it to bill correctly against your claim.
• Tell your GP exactly what your job involves. Not just your job title: what you actually do physically. This affects what restrictions go on your certificate.
• Tell your physio what your employer has offered. If you have been offered specific suitable duties, your physio can give you a realistic assessment of whether those tasks are manageable at your current stage of recovery.
• Do your home exercises. The time between physio sessions matters. Consistent home exercise between appointments is usually what separates a faster recovery from a slower one.
• Say something if the duties you are being offered do not feel right. You can refuse tasks that are outside your certified capacity. If you are unsure, call your GP before accepting.

Questions About Workplace Injury Recovery

• Do I need a referral to book a WorkCover appointment at One Health Clinics Albion?

  No. You can book directly. Call 1300 689 133 or book online using the booking link on this page. When booking, mention that it is a WorkCover or workplace injury appointment so reception can set up the right appointment type. Bring your claim number if you have one.

• How do I book physiotherapy at the Albion clinic?

  The physiotherapy practice at Albion Central is Brisbane Physiotherapy, run by Jack Peoples. It is a separate practice from One Health Clinics and has its own booking system. Visit brisbanephysiotherapy.com/albion to book directly. Your GP at One Health Clinics can provide a referral, which may be required by your insurer for the sessions to be covered under your claim.

• What is a suitable duties offer and do I have to accept it?

  A suitable duties offer is an offer of work from your employer that is within the restrictions specified on your medical certificate. Generally, if the offer is reasonable and within your certified capacity, you are expected to try. If you find the offered duties are beyond what you can manage, contact your GP promptly so they can update your certificate. Do not simply decline without speaking to your GP first: how you handle this can affect your claim.

• How often do I need to see my GP during a WorkCover claim?

  This depends on the length and nature of your recovery, but you will typically need to see your GP every one to four weeks to renew your medical certificate and review your progress. Do not wait for your certificate to expire before booking: gaps in your certification can create problems with your insurer.

• Can the GP and physio work together even if they are at different locations?

  Yes. Communication between providers happens via letters and notes, not necessarily in person. It is your responsibility as the patient to make sure both providers have each other’s contact details and are aware of what the other is doing. If your GP has not heard from your physio in a few weeks, mention it at your next appointment.

• What if I am not ready to go back to work but my insurer is pressuring me?

  Your medical certificate is what determines your work capacity: not the insurer. If your GP has certified you as not fit for work or fit for restricted duties, that is the medical evidence. If you feel pressured to return before you are ready, speak to your GP. They can document their clinical reasoning and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist for a second opinion that strengthens your case. If you are uncertain about your rights, visit WorkSafe Queensland for further information.

• Does the mental health impact of a workplace injury get covered by WorkCover?

  Psychological injury is covered by WorkCover in Queensland, either as a primary claim or as a secondary condition arising from a physical injury. If you are finding the mental health side of your recovery difficult (anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, or other psychological symptoms), tell your GP. They can assess whether this should be incorporated into your claim and, if appropriate, arrange a Mental Health Care Plan and psychology referral. For more on psychological injury claims, visit WorkSafe Queensland.

Book a WorkCover Appointment at One Health Clinics Albion

If you have been injured at work or are in the middle of a WorkCover recovery, the GP clinic and physio are both available at Albion Central. No referral needed to book the GP. For physio, book directly with Brisbane Physiotherapy at the Albion Allied Health Suites.

Book the GP online

You can also call the GP clinic on 1300 689 133. The clinic is at One Health Clinics, 6 Crosby Rd Albion QLD 4010. Current opening hours are listed below.

Book physio: Brisbane Physiotherapy, Allied Health Suites, downstairs in Albion Central.

Related reading

• GP Clinic Albion, Brisbane
• What Can a Physiotherapist in Albion Actually Help With?
• What to Expect at Your First GP Appointment in Brisbane