How Speech Pathology may help after a workplace injury

A workplace injury can affect how someone communicates, thinks, processes information, manages conversations, remembers instructions, uses their voice, eats, drinks or participates at work.

These changes can make everyday life and return to work more difficult, even when the injury is not immediately visible.

Speech Pathology looks at the person’s communication, swallowing, voice, cognitive-communication skills, functional goals and daily environments.

Support may focus on improving communication, supporting memory and attention strategies, managing voice demands, improving swallowing safety where relevant, and helping people participate more confidently at home, in the community and at work.

When to consider Speech Pathology

Speech Pathology may be relevant if a worker is experiencing difficulty with:

• Communication after a workplace injury

• Word-finding or getting words out

• Understanding information or instructions

• Memory, attention or processing speed

• Planning, organising or problem-solving

• Conversation confidence

• Cognitive-communication after concussion or brain injury

• Voice changes or vocal fatigue

• Voice strain from work demands

• Swallowing difficulties

• Eating or drinking concerns

• Facial, oral or jaw-related functional changes

• Social communication after injury

• Returning to communication-heavy work tasks

• Managing phone calls, meetings or written communication

• Confidence participating at work or in the community

Speech Pathology can also be helpful when a person appears physically recovered but is still struggling with communication, thinking skills, voice or participation in real-life settings.

What Speech Pathology support may include

Depending on the person’s injury, goals, work role and insurer requirements, Speech Pathology may include:

• Communication assessment

• Cognitive-communication assessment

• Swallowing assessment, where appropriate

• Voice assessment and therapy

• Speech and language therapy

• Memory and attention strategies

• Executive functioning support

• Planning and organisation strategies

• Return-to-work communication strategies

• Support for meetings, phone calls or written communication

• Education for clients, families and support people

• Functional communication therapy

• AAC recommendations, where appropriate

• Mealtime strategies, where clinically indicated

• Workplace communication recommendations

• Home programs

• Progress monitoring

• Communication with referrers, insurers and treating providers

• Progress updates and reports where required

The goal is to support communication, safety, participation and confidence in everyday life and work-related activities.

Cognitive-communication support after concussion or brain injury

Some workplace injuries may result in concussion, mild traumatic brain injury or other neurological changes.

A person may look physically well but still experience changes with:

• Attention

• Memory

• Processing speed

• Word-finding

• Mental fatigue

• Planning and organisation

• Problem-solving

• Following instructions

• Managing conversations

• Returning to complex work tasks

• Coping with busy or noisy environments

Speech Pathology may support people to understand these changes and develop practical strategies for everyday life and work.

This may include routines, memory systems, communication strategies, fatigue management, environmental modifications and graded return-to-work communication planning.

Voice support after workplace injury

Some workers may experience voice changes after injury, illness, trauma, surgery, respiratory issues or high vocal demands at work.

This may include:

• Hoarseness

• Vocal fatigue

• Reduced volume

• Throat discomfort

• Difficulty projecting the voice

• Voice loss

• Reduced confidence speaking

• Difficulty managing work-related speaking demands

Speech Pathology may help with voice assessment, vocal hygiene education, voice strategies and graded return to communication-heavy work tasks.

Where required, medical review may also be recommended.

Swallowing and mealtime support

Speech Pathologists may assist workers experiencing swallowing difficulties after certain injuries, neurological events, surgery or medical complications.

Swallowing concerns may include coughing or choking when eating or drinking, changes in mealtime confidence, difficulty managing textures, recurrent chest infections or feeling that food or fluid is not going down safely.

Support may include swallowing assessment, mealtime recommendations, education, strategies to support safer eating and drinking, and communication with relevant medical or treating providers.

The suitability and scope of swallowing support will depend on the person’s clinical presentation, medical status and referral requirements.

Supporting return to work

Speech Pathologists can assist with return-to-work planning where communication, cognition, voice or swallowing needs are affecting work participation.

This may include support for:

• Understanding and following instructions

• Managing workplace conversations

• Participating in meetings

• Using the phone or video calls

• Managing written communication

• Planning and organising work tasks

• Reducing communication breakdowns

• Managing cognitive fatigue

• Graded exposure to communication-heavy duties

• Voice demands at work

• Workplace communication strategies

• Education for relevant support people, where appropriate

Speech Pathology input may help workers return to communication, thinking and participation demands in a realistic and sustainable way.

Communication and reporting

Workers compensation cases often involve several people, including the worker, GP, specialist, employer, insurer, rehabilitation consultant and other treating providers.

Speech Pathologists can provide clear communication and progress updates to help support coordinated care.

This may include:

• Assessment summaries

• Therapy plans

• Functional communication recommendations

• Cognitive-communication recommendations

• Voice or swallowing recommendations

• Return-to-work communication recommendations

• Progress updates

• Communication with insurers or rehabilitation consultants

• Liaison with treating providers

• Goal-based therapy planning

Reports and communication are completed according to the referral request, funding approval and clinical need.

Who can refer?

Referrals may come from:

• The injured worker

• A GP

• A medical specialist

• An employer

• An insurer

• A rehabilitation consultant

• A case manager

• Another treating health professional

Funding approval may be required before services commence. Our team can help guide referrers and clients through the intake process.

Where appointments can take place

Depending on the referral, approval and clinical need, Speech Therapy may be available:

• At our Malaga clinic

• At our Noranda clinic, where suitable

• At home

• In the workplace

• In the community

• Via telehealth, where appropriate

The most suitable appointment location will depend on the person’s goals, injury, functional difficulties and insurer approval.

Working together with other services

At Palms, Speech Therapy can work alongside other allied health services where appropriate.

This may include Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology, Occupational Therapy or other treating providers involved in the person’s recovery.

A coordinated approach can help support physical recovery, functional independence, activity tolerance and return-to-work goals.

Getting started

To refer for Speech Therapy under workers compensation, please complete our referral form or contact our team.

It is helpful to include:

• Worker details

• Claim details, if available

• Insurer or case manager contact details

• Medical certificate or capacity certificate, if available

• Injury details

• Current functional difficulties

• Reason for referral

• Approval information, if already obtained

• Relevant reports or treating provider information

Once received, our team will review the referral and contact you regarding the next step.

How we may help after a work injury

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy may assist with:

• pain-related movement difficulties

• mobility and walking

• strength and physical function

• balance and confidence

• rehabilitation after fracture, soft tissue injury, surgery or hospitalisation

• graded return to activity

Treatment is tailored to the person’s presentation and may focus on restoring movement, rebuilding capacity and improving day-to-day function.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy may assist with:

• daily living tasks

• fatigue management

• home and workplace function

• upper limb function

• return to routine

• equipment recommendations where appropriate

• practical strategies to improve independence

For some people, OT may be especially helpful when the injury is affecting self-care, household tasks, work tasks or community access.

Exercise Physiology

Exercise physiology may be helpful where a person needs:

• structured reconditioning

• strength and endurance support

• supervised exercise after injury or inactivity

• physical capacity building

• support returning to exercise safely

Exercise physiology may be especially relevant in later rehabilitation phases where graded exercise and rebuilding confidence are priorities.

Speech Pathology

Speech pathology may be relevant for some people after a workplace injury, particularly where there has been:

• brain injury

• concussion-related communication changes

• cognitive-communication difficulties

• voice changes

• swallowing or mealtime concerns

Support is based on the person’s individual needs and referral.

Common issues after a workplace injury

People recovering from a work-related injury may experience a wide range of functional difficulties depending on the type of injury and their job demands. These may include:

• neck or back pain

• reduced mobility

• weakness or deconditioning

• difficulty with lifting, carrying or physical tasks

• reduced confidence with movement

• difficulty returning to work duties

• challenges with self-care and home tasks

• cognitive or communication changes after head injury

• swallowing difficulties in more complex injury presentations

Not every person will need the same type of support. Therapy should always be based on the individual’s injuries, current function and goals.

Our Therapy Services

Claims, certificates and referrals

In WA, a worker generally makes a workers compensation claim by giving their employer a completed Workers Compensation Claim Form together with a First Certificate of Capacity completed by their treating medical practitioner. WorkCover WA explains that the First Certificate of Capacity records the worker’s description of the injury, the medical assessment, capacity for work and the injury management plan.

If a claim is accepted, treatment and allied health expenses may be payable subject to the rules of the scheme and the relevant approvals. WorkCover WA also publishes maximum fees for health services under the Workers Compensation (Health Services) Fees Order 2025, which applies to compensable health expenses in WA.

Because approvals and claim arrangements can vary, it is best to use wording such as:

• treatment may be funded if approved

• services are subject to claim acceptance and insurer requirements

• final funding decisions rest with the relevant insurer or claims manager

Avoid wording that implies automatic cover or guaranteed approval.

Return to work and workplace rehabilitation

For some workers, recovery also involves formal workplace rehabilitation support. WorkCover WA states that referrals to workplace rehabilitation providers can be made using a Workplace Rehabilitation Referral Form, or on the worker’s First or Progress Certificate of Capacity, and that the injured worker has the right to choose their workplace rehabilitation provider.

At Palms, allied health treatment can support goals that are often important in a return-to-work process, such as:

• improving physical capacity

• rebuilding confidence with movement

• improving function for daily and work-related tasks

• supporting safer participation in home and community routines

Our approach

At Palms, we focus on practical, goal-directed rehabilitation. That means treatment is built around what matters most to the individual, whether that is:

• walking more confidently

• returning to everyday tasks

• rebuilding strength after injury

• improving balance and mobility

• managing physical limitations more effectively

• getting back to work, home or community routines

We aim to make therapy relevant to real life and tailored to each stage of recovery.

FAQ

Can I have physiotherapy after a work injury?

Yes. Physiotherapy is commonly used as part of rehabilitation after a work-related injury where the person has mobility, pain-related movement, strength, balance or physical function needs.

Can treatment after a workplace injury be funded?

In WA, if a workers compensation claim is accepted, the worker may be entitled to compensation for reasonable medical and allied health treatment expenses.

How do I start a workers compensation claim in WA?

WorkCover WA says a worker starts a claim by giving their employer a completed Workers Compensation Claim Form together with a First Certificate of Capacity completed by their treating medical practitioner.

What is a First Certificate of Capacity?

WorkCover WA says the First Certificate of Capacity records the worker’s description of the injury, the treating practitioner’s medical assessment, the worker’s capacity for work and the injury management plan.

Do you offer clinic and home visits?

Yes. We offer clinic and mobile allied health services, depending on the person’s location, therapist availability and clinical suitability.

What services do you provide for workers compensation recovery?

Depending on your needs, we may provide physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise physiology and speech pathology.

Can occupational therapy help after a work injury?

Yes, where the injury is affecting daily living, independence, home or work function, upper limb use, fatigue management or return to routine.

Can exercise physiology help after a work injury?

For some people, yes. Exercise physiology may be useful when graded reconditioning, strength, endurance and physical capacity-building are part of recovery.

Can speech pathology help after a work injury?

Sometimes. Speech pathology may be relevant where a person has communication, cognitive-communication, voice or swallowing difficulties after the injury.

Do I need claim approval before treatment is funded?

This depends on the circumstances of the claim and the insurer’s processes. If treatment is being funded through workers compensation, claim acceptance and approval requirements can apply.

External Resources for Workers Compensation Claims in Australia

WorkCover WA
https://www.workcover.wa.gov.au
The primary regulatory body for workers compensation in Western Australia, providing guidelines, resources, and support for workers and employers.

Safe Work Australia
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
Offers national policy development, information, and resources on work health and safety and workers compensation.

Australian Government – Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
https://www.dewr.gov.au
Provides information on workplace relations, including workers compensation laws and rights.

WorkSafe Victoria
https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
A comprehensive resource for workers compensation information, claims, and rights specific to Victoria.

Law Society of Western Australia – Workers Compensation
https://www.lawsocietywa.asn.au
Provides guidance on legal rights and options regarding workers compensation claims in Western Australia.

Important disclaimer: This webpage contains general information only and is not intended to be relied upon as personal clinical advice. While we aim to keep information accurate and up to date, it may not reflect the most current research or your individual circumstances. Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health does not accept liability for decisions made based on this information without an individualised assessment by an appropriately qualified health professional. If you have concerns, please contact us to book an assessment or speak with your GP/medical team.