The Australian work disability patchwork

Australia’s response to the problem of work disability is a complex and constantly changing legal patchwork. The chief means of support are 11 distinct workers’ compensation schemes and a federal social security system. These mechanisms are part of a broader suite of measures aimed at preventing and managing work disability and its consequences. In theory, the diversity creates opportunities for within-nation comparison of different approaches. In practice, inconsistencies across multiple dimensions and persistent unresolved questions about inequity and access make it difficult to identify the leading approaches to facilitating work reintegration.