|
|
Rehabilitation and Workers' Compensation
Frequently Asked Questions
At the ANU, rehabilitation (return to work) planning and action does not need to wait for a Comcare decision.
1. When Should You Claim Compensation?
You can claim compensation if your injury or disease was caused or contributed to by your work and occurred:
- while you were at work (including normal work breaks eg lunch);
- while travelling between your home and your work; or
- travelling on an approved work activity.
You can claim compensation through the University's compensation insurer, Comcare Australia, if you have incurred expenses related to an injury or disease.
Staff members are NOT obliged to make a claim for compensation. It is the individual staff members’ choice to claim for compensation.
If you have NOT incurred any costs associated with the injury you SHOULD NOT make a claim for compensation.
By completing an Online Incident Report Form you will ensure that the University has a record of your injury in case it does cause problems or expenses later.
It is requirement of staff to report incidents within 4 hours of occurrence.
top
2. When Do You Need To Go to the Doctor?
You should see a doctor if you have injured yourself at work, and:
- feel that you should be seen by a doctor
- want to claim compensation,
- need treatment and intend to claim these costs from the ANU,
- need to take time off work, and/or
- need to work reduced hours.
If you already have an open compensation claim, you should see your doctor:
- on or before the Review Date specified by your doctor in Section 2 of your Comcare medical certificate,
- for a Medical Review Certificate, if you need treatment beyond the date specified by Comcare as the date of end of liability for your claim (this will be detailed on Comcare's correspondence with you);
If in doubt, seek medical advice.
top
3. What Do You Need To Claim Workers’ Compensation?
To claim compensation, a claim pack is available from IPAR. Contact IPAR
You will need to lodge an Incident Notification Report (Online Incident Report Form) regarding this injury/illness.
You will need to provide the following information with your completed Comcare claim form:
Blank forms for the above information are included in the claim pack.
top
4. What Happens When You Claim Compensation?
The following is what happens when you lodge a claim for compensation with your employer:
- A Senior Manager (with appropriate delegation) signs the form and your RACLO completes the relevant information in Part 2 of the claim form. The form is then sent to the Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Unit (IPAR);
- Based on the incident notification or your contact with IPAR, a rehabilitation Case Manager will be allocated to assist you and your supervisor to plan your return to work and other support;
- The Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Unit process the form with Comcare;
- Comcare register the claim, notify you of your claim number and make a decision about whether to accept liability for your injury. This may take several weeks.
At the ANU, rehabilitation (return to work) planning and action does not need to wait for a Comcare decision.
top
5. What Happens To The Bills?
- Until Comcare make a decision about your claim, YOU are responsible for paying all expenses related to your injury, such as doctor’s bills, physiotherapy, other treatment and medication.
- Most doctors, physiotherapists, diagnostic technicians and other treatment providers expect to be paid up front at the time of your visit. However, if you quote your Comcare Claim Number sometimes they will bill Comcare direct or give you an invoice to claim from Comcare.
- You should note that there is sometimes a gap between the amount charged by some providers and the amount reimbursed by Comcare and it is your responsibility to pay this amount. Comcare will pay for reasonable costs only as determined by them.
- If you have only small expenses related to your work-related injury you can talk to your Business Office about claiming under the Minor Work-Related Injury Guidelines.
top
6. What About Rehabilitation?
- Rehabilitation is enabling an injured staff member to return to work to their full potential.
- The earlier rehabilitation commences, the better the outcome for staff and supervisors.
- Rehabilitation is provided regardless of whether a claim for compensation is made.
- A Rehabilitation Case Manager has the skills and delegation to determine rehabilitation needs of injured staff and to develop an agreed return to work program.
- A consultant rehabilitation provider may to be employed to assist the staff and case manager.
- The cost of the rehabilitation providers is covered by either Comcare (if they accept liability for the claim) or by the University (if liability is denied by Comcare or no claim for compensation is made by the injured person).
- The University only employs rehabilitation providers who are Comcare approved in accordance with the SRC Act.
top
7. Do You Have To Fill Out All Those Forms?
If you want your expenses to be paid by Comcare then you DO have to fill out all the forms!
top
8. What About Redundancy?
- Employees with an open claim for compensation, who wish to consider an offer of redundancy, must first discuss the matter with their Rehabilitation Case manager and seek advice from Comcare.
- As a broad principle, the University will NOT consider redundancy for an employee who is absent from work as a result of a compensable condition, or who is undergoing a Graduated Return to Work.
top
9. What about Annual Leave?
- Section 116 of the SRC Act restricts an employee from taking any paid leave (except maternity leave) when they are on compensation leave.
- Compensation leave includes periods of total incapacity as well as periods of a graduated return to work.
- Therefore, as a general rule, leave should not be taken before or during a graduated return to work program or rehabilitation program unless there are special circumstances (which will be considered on an individual basis).
- Any requests for leave must be discussed with and approved by your Case Manager prior to any plans being made. Your supervisor will be consulted by the Case Manager.
If you are:
- past 45 weeks and on Total Incapacity then you will NOT accrue any annual leave, and
- past 45 weeks and on a GRTW programme your annual leave will accrue pro rata the number of hours where you are at work.
- Long service leave is not affected.
top
10. What about Personal Leave?
If you are:
- on a GRTW programme and you are unable to attend work due to an illness or injury UNRELATED to your compensable condition, then you can claim personal Leave for the hours you would have attended work on your GRTW.
- For example, you are normally a full time worker but have returned to work on a GRTW programme and are currently working 20 hours per week. That is, you work 5 days per week for 4 hours per day. You catch a bad cold and cannot attend work for three days. Your personal leave will be deducted at 4 hours per day.
- on Total Incapacity and you become ill or injured then you do not claim personal leave until such time as you have recovered from your compensable injury.
- Personal leave does NOT accrue past 45 weeks and is accrued on a pro-rata basis for GRTW past 45 weeks. Long service leave is unaffected.
top
11. Who, at the University, can help me with my work-related medical condition/injury?
As well as your treatment providers, the following ANU staff are available to assist staff:
(email: IPAR@anu.edu.au)
top
12. What if I am a Supervisor, what is my role?
If you are a supervisor and one of your staff members is injured and claiming compensation the following is a summary of your responsibilities. You should:
- ensure that the Online Incident Report Form has been filled in and submitted.
- maintain appropriate contact with the staff member whilst they are unfit for work;
- read the completed Claim for Rehabilitation and Compensation form and comment by completing the Supervising Officers’ Statement. (PDF);
- liaise with the Case Manager and/or the Rehabilitation Provider to find suitable duties for the injured employee;
- ensure that the injured staff member complies with the specified medical restrictions, modified duties and reduced hours;
- keep the Case Manager informed of progress and problems with the rehabilitation of injured staff;
- ensure that the workplace maintains appropriate contact with injured staff who are unable to work; and
- that periods of absence are appropriately reported.
top
13. Where Do I Get the Claim Forms?
Claim Packs with information relevant to ANU staff are available from the Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Unit.
Email: IPAR@anu.edu.au
Your RACLO will assist you to complete the form.
Claim forms are also available from the Comcare web site: www.comcare.gov.au
top
|
