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Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open
Journal article
A systematic-narrative review of goal-setting guidelines in workers' compensation rehabilitation in Australia
Australian Journal of Primary Health, Vol.32(1), pp.1-14
02/2026
PMID: 41376255
Appears in Recent Faculty of Education Publications
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Abstract
Background: Goal setting is a core component of return-to-work rehabilitation in Australia. Various treatment guidelines have been developed and are regulated independently by each jurisdiction's workers' compensation authority. However, the extent to which these guidelines are consistent from a goal-setting perspective is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to review all goal-setting guidelines for health professionals delivering services within workers' compensation schemes in Australia.
Methods: A systematic-narrative review was conducted that searched academic and grey literature databases, web search engines, and workers' compensation authorities' websites, identifying 26 goal-setting guidelines across all Australian states/territories.
Results: The analysis indicated that 58% of guidelines involved specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timed (SMART) goal principles to some extent. Specifically, 35% of guidelines expected health professionals to only set SMART goals, 19% expected goals to include one or more of the SMART principles and 4% included guidance for multiple goal types. The SMART acronym was inconsistently conceptualised in 22% of guidelines that included this approach. Additionally, 42% of guidelines did not specify any goal type. There were also inconsistencies in the extent to which health professionals were expected to adhere to guidelines; recommendations regarding patient involvement in the goal-setting process; the required focus of rehabilitation goals; and their basis in goal-setting research.
Conclusions: This study suggests that goal-setting guidelines for return-to-work rehabilitation in Australia are inconsistent and primarily based on SMART goal principles. These findings highlight potential issues for health professionals supporting injured workers, and indicate that more evidence-based and consistent goal-setting guidance may achieve better outcomes in workers' compensation.
Details
- Title
- A systematic-narrative review of goal-setting guidelines in workers' compensation rehabilitation in Australia
- Creators
- Jack Sargeant - Southern Cross UniversityDylan Poulus - Southern Cross UniversityCharmaine Bernie - Southern Cross UniversityChristian Swann - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Australian Journal of Primary Health, Vol.32(1), pp.1-14
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing; CLAYTON SOUTH
- Grant note
- QBE and Leapforward Scholarship: N/A
A narrative interpretation of the preliminary findings from this review was presented at the Australian Comcare National Conference 2024.
- Identifiers
- 991013337085502368
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)).
- Academic Unit
- Human Sciences; Faculty of Education; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article