Introduction Older age tends to be associated with longer time to return-to-work (RTW) following a workplace injury and multiple recurrences of work absence following an initial RTW attempt. However, few studies have examined the underlying factors that are responsible for these differences.

Objectives To examine the overall association between age and return-to-work (RTW), understand the extent to which functional, psychosocial, organizational, life-stage related factors indirectly explain these associations, and examine whether there is a remaining direct proportion not mediated by these factors.

Methods We used survey data from a prospective cohort of injured workers in Victoria, Australia. Participants were recruited during the 2014 to 2015 period from monthly samples of claimants identified by the compensation system. Path models examined the relationship between age and RTW, and the proportion mediated via functional, psychosocial, organizational, life-stage related factors.

Results Older age was associated with non-RTW, although the pattern was not observed consistently across follow-up surveys. A proportion of the overall relationship between age and non-RTW was explained by functional and life-stage factors and RTW status at previous time points.

Conclusion Findings underscore the importance of moving beyond age measured only in chronological years, towards more complex conceptual and analytical models that recognize age as a multidimensional construct.