Resources
Resources
Welcome to the resources of the Injured Workers Support Network. This is where we publish stories, tools and resources to help injured workers navigate financial and emotional difficulties that can come with being an injured worker, including advice on how to navigate the WorkCover system.
This page is updated regularly with new resources, so feel free to check back regularly.
A History of WorkCover
A History of WorkCover
A History of WorkCover Early Days Workers’ compensation in Victoria dates to 1914, when the state parliament passed the Workers’ Compensation Act. For the first time, this Act made it mandatory for employers to take out accident insurance policies to compensate workers who suffered injuries on the job, regardless of whether the workplace was liable or negligent. This Act was based off the British tradition of workers compensation, which was private – not run by the government – and did not give much focus to rehabilitation. It can be seen as...
Mental Injury Provisional Payments
Mental Injury Provisional Payments
What are Provisional Payments? From 1 July 2021, Victorian workers and volunteers will have access to early treatment and support while awaiting an outcome for their mental injury claim. Payment for this support is called provisional payments. This law was introduced to help remove financial barriers that would prevent a worker from seeking support, facilitate earlier mental health care and reduce the length of time to recover from a mental injury. Workers who are eligible for provisional payments will be entitled to claim reasonable costs of: medical treatment and services, ...
Workers Compensation Checklist
Workers Compensation Checklist
1. Injury Notification ☐ Did you or another person on your behalf give the employer notice of an injury or illness within 30 days? The worker must use the injury reporting system, commonly referred to as injury register in the first instance (s.18 subsection 2 and 3). The employer must also acknowledge in writing that they have received the injury report (s.18 paragraph 4). ☐ If your claim for compensation relates to an injury resulting from an accident involving a motor vehicle, did you report the accident to a member...
What happens when your claim is accepted
What happens when your claim is accepted
A Workers Compensation claim form must be filled in and handed to your employer, along with your doctors WorkCover initial 14 day certificate of capacity. This doctor’s certificate will have either; a no work capacity or a reduced work capacity/ restrictions, meaning you are unable to do your normal work. Remember you are not on WorkCover benefits until your claim has been accepted and you are issued a claim number. Once your claim has been accepted, you must keep getting medical certificates every 28 days from your doctor to show...
What To Do If You’re Getting Harassed While Making a Claim.
What To Do If You’re Getting Harassed While Making a Claim.
Before we get into it, full disclosure. I’ve never made a claim for a workplace injury. But I have worked closely with the members of the IWSN for the past year, and one subject that keeps coming up time and time again is the harassment they endure from insurance agencies, bent on finding evidence that you’re fit and healthy enough to be back in the workforce. These insurance agencies are tasked with finding evidence to prove you’re fit and healthy enough to go back to work. What they don’t take...
