Rehabilitation and Workers' Compensation

Key Words

45 weeks
Benefits
Comcare
Comcare website
Compensation
Duty Of Care
Graduated Return to Work Programme
Online Incident Report Form
Medical Certificate
Minor Work-Related Injury
Open Claim
RACLO
Rehabilitation and Workers' Compensation Unit
Rehabilitation
Total Incapacity

Medical Certificate – To claim compensation the medical certificate:

• must be an original from a legally qualified medical practitioner (a General Practitioner or Medical Specialist), UNLESS claiming solely for medical expenses for chiropractic or osteopathic treatment, in which case a medical certificate from the treating chiropractor or osteopath will be sufficient;
• must state a precise diagnosis (certificates containing words such as ‘medical condition’, ‘back pain’, ‘work-related stress’ will not be accepted);
• must state the relationship between the injury/illness and your employment; and
• must certify any claimed periods of incapacity for work.

45 weeks - Comcare pay compensation at the rate of 100% of Normal Weekly Earnings (NWE) for the first 45 weeks of incapacity. 

After 45 weeks of incapacity:- 

• Comcare pay between 75% and 95% of your NWE depending on the number of hours that you are back at work.
• Once you are back to work on your full pre-injury hours you are eligible for your full pre-injury salary, UNLESS you take further time off  in which case your salary will be reduced according to the total hours worked in that particular week.  For example,  you are working your full pre-injury hours but take two hours off to attend a doctor's appointment and you lodge a claim form with Comcare for the two hours, then your salary will be reduced to 95% of your NWE for that week. 

Graduated Return to Work Programme - The process whereby an employee, in accordance with medical advice, returns to specified duties on reduced hours, and increases those hours or duties gradually, as the condition which led to the compensation claim improves.

Total Incapacity - Unfit to work any hours. 

Comcare – The University is insured by Comcare Australia for workers’ compensation, under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act).  The SRC Act and the University’s Rehabilitation Policy requires the University to provide a programme of rehabilitation and suitable duties to injured employees.  The University pays a Premium to Comcare, which covers expenses for compensable injuries.  For more information go to the Comcare Website and/or the Comcare ‘A Guide for Employees’.

Open Claim – A claim is open if you have an accepted claim with Comcare AND you have had recent (within 3 months) treatment or other expenses paid on the claim.

Duty of Care - The University has a legislative obligation to provide a safe workplace.  Staff of the University has an obligation to work in a safe manner and to follow the University's safety procedures and guidelines.

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