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Purpose

The objectives of collecting information from a fitness for work assessment is to:

• Allow Council to assist in the prevention of an exacerbation of a medical condition and to assess appropriate modifications or adjustments to working conditions and equipment.
• Establish a record of an employee’s state of health prior to commencement of work with Council to enable Council to comply with its Primary Duty of Care obligations.

Information collected will not be used to discriminate current or potential staff members.

Scope

Applies to all existing staff, Chief Executive Officer and candidates in receipt of a written employment offer.

Definition and Terms

Candidate: a person who has received a written offer of employment from Council.

Medical Practitioner: a Doctor (General Practitioner) or a Head Nurse in a community where a Doctor is not available.

Duty of Care: a legal obligation to take reasonable care to protect another from all reasonably foreseeable risk of harm.

Discrimination: when a person, or a group of people is treated less favorably than another person or group because of their background or certain personal characteristics.

Legislation and Reference

Local Government Act 2019
NT Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011
Return to Work Act 1986
Fair Work Act 2009
Central Desert Regional Council Enterprise Agreement
Anti-Discrimination Act 1992

Policy Statement

Prior to commencement, candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment health declaration provided to them by People & Culture (P&C).

Candidates may also be required to undertake a fitness for work assessment, certifying that they are suitably fit to perform the role being offered as per the position description.

Should a medical practitioner certify that a candidate is not fit for the role, a more suitable role may be offered or an employment offer may be withdrawn.

Assessments for fitness for work are only to be made by qualified medical practitioners in relation to the position description and the inherent requirements of the role.

Fitness for work assessments will be undertaken by a practitioner of Council’s choosing, and costs associated with the assessment will be borne by Council.

Council reserves the right to request existing staff to undertake a fitness for work assessment at any time to ensure that staff are fit for their role as part of Council’s duty of care.

Employees requested to undergo a fitness for work assessment will be required to undertake the assessment and supply the fitness for work certificate in a reasonable or otherwise agreed timeframe.

Review History