Skip to content 
Comcare Desktop Section 36 Assessments & Long-Tail Claim Reviews
Strategic Insight. Comprehensive Analysis. Practical Recommendations.
With over a decade of experience in Comcare rehabilitation and complex case strategy, ELEV8 provides detailed Section 36 Desktop Assessments and long-tail claim reviews. These reports are designed to support strategic case decision-making, clarify next steps, and enhance the likelihood of sustainable outcomes.
Comcare Section 36 Desktop Review Assessments
A Section 36 desktop review is a paper-based rehabilitation assessment under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act). It’s used to determine an employee’s capability to undertake a rehabilitation program without requiring them to attend an examination. Comcare’s Guide directs decision-makers to first consider whether the information already on file is sufficient for a desktop review under s36(1); only if it isn’t should an examination under s36(3) be arranged.
When a desktop review is appropriate
-
Early triage to confirm the most suitable pathway (same-employer vs new-employer).
-
The file contains enough recent, relevant evidence to assess capability and plan next steps.
-
Worker interview/exam isn’t required, feasible, or proportionate at this stage.
What we examine
-
Medical evidence and certificates, treatment trajectory and stability of restrictions.
-
Role demands and workplace context, including adjustments tried and WHS/psychosocial risks.
-
Rehabilitation history and outcomes, costs to date, barriers and enablers.
-
Vocational options on file and alignment to certified capacity and inherent requirements
What you receive
-
A detailed, scheme-aligned report answering the referral questions and linking conclusions to the evidence reviewed.
-
Clear recommendations: Targeted, evidence-based strategies and interventions that remove barriers to recovery and RTW, providing decision-makers with practical actions and justification.
How it differs from an s36(3) examination
Desktop review (s36(1)): file-based; no examination; proportionate where evidence suffices.
Examination (s36(3)): the employee is required to attend an examination (often IME/rehab assessment) when the file alone can’t answer capability questions. Both must be arranged in line with Comcare’s Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations (2024)
Why choose ELEV8 for s36 Desktop Reviews
- Deep Comcare & APS expertise: We’ve worked inside the Commonwealth and across APS agencies for over 20 years, so we understand scheme obligations, APS culture, work level standards, and how decisions play out operationally.
- Scheme-aligned, evidence-based guidance: We provide clear, defensible rehabilitation strategy recommendations grounded in the SRC Act and current Comcare guidance
Supporting recovery?
Let’s make it happen today!
We don’t just lead the business—we live the work. Our leadership team continues to deliver services firsthand, bringing real-world insight, empathy, and connection to every decision we make.
