Workcover

You may have access to injury compensation if you have suffered an injury at work.

You may have entitlements if:

• you have suffered an accident at or as a result of work (this includes injuries suffered during authorised breaks)
• your health and wellbeing have suffered in the workplace; 
• you have exacerbated a pre-existing condition or injury.

In Victoria, workers are covered by the WorkCover scheme.

Did you know?

• Both casual and part-time workers, as well as some subcontractors, are covered by the WorkCover scheme; 
• Some workers also have support payments under their superannuation policy. If you are unable to perform your job due to injury, you may be able to access lump sump compensation under your superannuation policy.
• You can claim a lump sum for permanent impairment, generally after the injury is stable and after 12 months have passed since the injury was sustained. The amount you can claim will depend on the severity of your injury, and when it happened.
• If your injury was caused by the negligence of your employer or another party, you may also be able to pursue Common Law damages. As part of a claim for Common Law damages, you can seek compensation for both Loss of Earnings and Pain and Suffering.

In the state of Victoria, the WorkCover scheme protects all manner of workers. Casual, part-time and fixed-term workers are all protected under the scheme. Sub-contractors are also protected in some instances. 

Government workers in Victoria are protected by the Federal Comcare scheme.

Your entitlements under WorkCover depend on the seriousness of your injury and the date you sustained your injury.

In the state of Victoria, you are also covered for injuries sustained during the course of authorised breaks.

It is quite common for workers to suffer injury over the course of their employment due to the repetitive, arduous nature of their work.

Workers that sustain injury over the course of their employment are also entitled to support under the WorkCover scheme. 

Generally speaking, only workers are covered under the WorkCover scheme.  That said, some volunteers are deemed to be workers under certain pieces of legislation.

The following volunteers are deemed to be workers in respect of the WorkCover scheme:

• Country Fire Authority Act 1958 (casual fire fighters, including volunteer officers and members and volunteer auxiliary workers)
• Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (volunteer school workers or volunteer student workers)
• Emergency Management Act 1986 (volunteer emergency workers)
• Juries Act 2000 (jurors)
• Police Assistance Compensation Act 1968 (PAC Act) ( volunteers assisting police officers)
• Victoria State Emergency Services Act 2005 (voluntary registered and probationary members of the Victoria SES)

WorkCover entitlements and insurance benefits are not mutually exclusive. Workers in receipt of WorkCover compensation are also able to claim the following insurance benefits:

• Total and Permanent Disablement lump sum compensation
• Income Protection; and
• Incolink. 

The protection afforded to injured workers varies from policy to policy, so it is always important to read the exact wording of your policy.