Workplace RehabilitationIn a KINNECT clinic.
A neutral, private space across our national clinic network — ideal when an onsite or home visit isn’t needed and the worker is mobile.
Workplace Rehabilitation
Initial Needs Assessment.
When a worker is injured or ill, an Initial Needs Assessment scopes the physical, psychosocial and medical barriers to return to work — and sets a tailored, evidence-based plan to move the rehabilitation program forward.
Quick answer
The short version
An Initial Needs Assessment is the first-step rehabilitation assessment KINNECT runs when a worker is injured or ill. A qualified rehabilitation consultant meets with the worker (and, where useful, the employer and treating doctor) to scope the physical, psychosocial and medical barriers to return to work, then sets a tailored plan with clear, actionable recommendations. It establishes the worker's current functional capacity, flags any inconsistencies between reported and demonstrated capacity, and gives the employer and insurer a single, evidence-based starting point for the rehabilitation program.
What it is
The first step in a successful return to work.
When there are physical, psychosocial or medical barriers adversely impacting an injured or ill worker’s ability to return to work, KINNECT’s Initial Needs Assessment provides a tailored rehabilitation framework to guide the worker to a successful return to work.
By engaging KINNECT to conduct an Initial Needs Assessment, your worker benefits from a faster and smoother recovery — getting back to work more quickly and reducing the likelihood of high claim and insurance costs.
The goal of an Initial Needs Assessment is to provide clear recommendations that will facilitate a return to work — or a return to the activities of daily living — following injury or illness.
What you’ll receive
Inside the Initial Needs Assessment report.
A concise, decision-ready document the employer, insurer and treating team can act on straight away — no jargon, no padding.
- The worker's current functional capacity and rehabilitation needs
- Objective, demonstrated capacity alongside the worker’s subjective report
- Any inconsistencies between reported and demonstrated capacity
- A clear plan to implement the recommended return-to-work pathway
- Recommendations on suitable duties, treatment and supports required
How it works
From referral to plan — in four steps.
We move quickly, coordinate with everyone involved, and hand back a plan the rehabilitation program can run on.
- 01
Referral & triage
You send a short referral with the worker’s details, claim information and any current medical certificates. We confirm the consultant, location and timing within one business day.
- 02
Worker assessment
A KINNECT rehabilitation consultant meets with the worker — onsite, at our clinic or in their home — to discuss the injury, current symptoms, work history and personal goals, and to observe functional capacity.
- 03
Employer & treater consultation
Where it adds value, we contact the employer and treating doctor to confirm role demands, suitable duties available, and the medical view of capacity and prognosis.
- 04
Report & plan
You receive a concise written report with current capacity, identified barriers, recommended interventions and a step-by-step plan to guide the rehabilitation program.
Where we meet your worker
Onsite, in-home or in-clinic — whichever fits.
We meet the worker where the assessment will give the best picture of capacity and barriers, and cause the least disruption.
Onsite or in-home.
When seeing the worker in their workplace or at home gives a more accurate picture of capacity, role demands and recovery environment — our consultants come to them.
KINNECT clinic network
Find a KINNECT clinic near you.
Explore our current clinic locations. Service availability varies by clinic, so contact us to confirm the right location for this service.
Queensland
New South Wales
Victoria
Western Australia
South Australia
Northern Territory
FAQ
Initial Needs Assessments — answered.
The questions employers, insurers and case managers most often ask before sending the first referral.
What is an Initial Needs Assessment?
An Initial Needs Assessment (INA) is the first step in a KINNECT-managed workplace rehabilitation program. A qualified rehabilitation consultant meets with the injured or ill worker, gathers history, observes functional capacity, and works with the employer and treating team to set a clear, tailored plan for a safe and timely return to work.
Who should I refer for an Initial Needs Assessment?
Any worker whose injury or illness is creating physical, psychosocial or medical barriers to performing their pre-injury role. INAs are particularly useful early in a claim — they give employers, insurers and treating doctors a single, evidence-based starting point rather than relying on guesswork.
What does the INA report include?
The report sets out the worker’s current functional capacity and rehabilitation needs, captures both objectively demonstrated and subjectively reported capacity, flags any inconsistencies between the two, and lays out a detailed plan to implement the recommended return-to-work pathway.
Where is the assessment conducted?
KINNECT can deliver the Initial Needs Assessment in the worker’s home, at the workplace or in a KINNECT clinic — whichever combination best supports the worker and gives us the most accurate picture of capacity and barriers.
How quickly can KINNECT see my worker?
We aim to confirm the consultant, location and appointment time within one business day of receiving the referral. Early intervention matters — the sooner the INA is done, the faster the rehabilitation program can start.
Is KINNECT an approved Workplace Rehabilitation Provider?
Yes. KINNECT is an approved Workplace Rehabilitation Provider and delivers Initial Needs Assessments under the relevant state workers compensation schemes nationally.
Related services
Popular workplace rehabilitation services
Approved Workplace Rehabilitation Provider services our clients use most often — ordered by demand. Each link covers what it includes, who it suits and how to refer.
Most requested
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Learn more
Start the rehabilitation program
Refer your worker for an Initial Needs Assessment.
Talk to KINNECT about scoping an Initial Needs Assessment for your injured worker — onsite, in-home or in-clinic, with a decision-ready report back to you and the treating team.