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A workcover case manager warns injured worker not to speak with other people on workcover

By on June 7, 2013 in Case manager (follies), Shame files, WorkCover SA, WTF

Our co-author Trinny stumbled upon an outright disgusting letter that was sent by a workcover case manager in 2008 to an injured worker, warning the injured worker “not to speak with other people on workers compensation”! Are we surprised? Nope! If any consolation, it appears that this case manager resigned after the ‘incident’… A workcover [...]

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According to WorkCover, South Australia still lags

By on May 30, 2013 in OH&S, WorkCover SA

South Australia lost more than 560,000 days of productivity due to workers compensation claims over financial year 2012, WorkCoverSA has revealed. According to WorkCover, South Australia still lags The 26,523 claims for workplace injuries and illnesses cost the South Australian Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme (the Scheme) nearly $208 million, with the average cost per [...]

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Another fraud accused injured worker entitled to workcover!

By on May 25, 2013 in Fraud & Abuse, Legal cases, Surveillance, WorkCover SA

You surely know by now that we are allergic to the abuse of the very costly and wasteful surveillance by workcover (Authorities, insurers, self-insurers and employers) of injured workers, portraying them all as fraudulent malingerers. As we have pointed out on numerous occasions, many genuinely injured workers are “routinely” accused of “fraud” and have their [...]

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SA Premier accused of unprofessional conduct as previous workcover lawyer

By on May 25, 2013 in Legal cases, WorkCover SA

A Disabled man has accused SA Premier Jay Weatherill of unprofessional conduct and will now seek Attorney-General John Rau’s permission to prosecute him. SA Premier Jay Weatherhill accused of unprofessional conduct as previous workcover lawyer Alexander David Mericka has filed action against Mr Weatherill in the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. His complaint against Mr Weatherill, [...]

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Workcover surveillance fails to prove famous gotcha fraud, breached Act

By on May 1, 2013 in Legal cases, Surveillance, WorkCover SA

We, seriously injured workers, continue to find it alarming that so many people in the community continue to question the “genuine” status of injured workers. The media obviously has a large role to play by reinforcing the stereotype of injured workers as fraudulent malingerers, even though research has proven over and over again that injured [...]

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Tackling bias towards people with disability

By on December 26, 2012 in Articles & Research, Employment, Legislation, Media, Petitions, Politics, Return to work, suitable employment, unfair dismissal, WorkCover, WorkCover SA, Workers compensation

December 3 2012, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Bill Shorten launched a public consultation on proposals to boost employment participation for people with disability. The fight for equal opportunity for people with disabilities in finding suitable work could easily commence in South Australia through the WorkCover system. Where many of those on WorkCover are [...]

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Workcover SA is the worst performing scheme in Australia

By on December 3, 2012 in WorkCover SA, WTF

South Australia’s WorkCover scheme is the worst-performing in the nation and changes must be made to get more injured employees back to work, a parliamentary committee says. Workcover SA is – in our injured opinion – not only the worst performing but also the most expensive! Time to shut it down we say! South Australia’s [...]

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Workcover SA and Gov refuse to release FOI on former workcover SA boss

By on November 27, 2012 in FOI, WorkCover SA, WTF

THE State Government and WorkCover have refused to release details of a letter raising concerns about the conduct of former WorkCover chief executive Rob Thomson, who quit suddenly in September.   Freedom of Information requests over former WorkCover chief executive Rob Thomson stonewalled by: Cameron England From: adelaidenow THE State Government and WorkCover have refused [...]

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WorkCover SA appoints ex-Workcover NSW boss as its new CEO

By on November 20, 2012 in WorkCover SA, WTF

WORKCOVER South Australia has appointed Greg McCarthy as its new chief executive…WTF? Mr McCarthy, who was chairman of the New South Wales WorkCover Authority for eight years, will start his new role next month. WorkCover SA appoints ex-Workcover NSW boss as its new CEO WORKCOVER South Australia has appointed Greg McCarthy as its new chief [...]

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Doctors refusing WorkCover patients in SA

By on November 19, 2012 in Medical Resources, WorkCover, WorkCover SA

Doctos are refusing to take WorkCover SA patients, forcing people to travel from as far as Murray Bridge to the city for treatment. The Australian Medical Association president Peter Sharley said it was an ongoing and significant issue. Doctors refusing WorkCover patients Thursday, 15 November 2012 – Melissa Mack DOCTORS are refusing to take WorkCover [...]

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Objective evidence beats injured worker’s belief in comp claim

By on November 15, 2012 in Legal cases, WorkCover SA

Talking about “malingering” and biased independent medical examinations, we recently stumbled upon a fairly recent (2009), somewhat disturbing legal case, in which a full bench of the South Australian Workers compensation Tribunal ruled in upholding a decision of the employer (and the insurer of course) to cut the injured worker’s payments, because the injured worker’s [...]

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The Scheme: Film-maker wants to bring WorkCover policies and its insurers into the 21st century by exposing issues in a documentary

By on November 9, 2012 in Allianz, Articles & Research, Case manager (follies), CGU, Compensation, Corruption, GIO, Insurance claims, Insurance companies, IWSN, Media, Medical Exam (IME), Medical Panel, Nasty workcover employees, Permanent impairmemt, Politics, Premiums, Psych, Q-Comp, QBE, Serious injury, Shame files, Stories, Whislteblowing, WorkCover, WorkCover ACT, workcover forum, WorkCover NSW, WorkCover QLD, WorkCover SA, WorkCover Tas, WorkCover WA, Workers compensation, Workplace death, Workplace injury, WorkSafe Vic, Xchanging

 According to studies still being conducted at RMIT University, Australia’s worker’s compensation scheme is fast becoming one of the worst in the developed world. We received an interesting email from RMIT film student and WorkCover Victim, Kris Vanston, who was responsible for putting together a great piece on‘toxic’ WorkCover Systems. Kris is now seeking stories from [...]

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Volunteer Firefighters Must Be Covered by WorkCover SA Scheme – Greens

By on November 7, 2012 in Politics, WorkCover SA

Greens’ Industrial Relations Spokesperson Tammy Franks MLC has insisted compensation arrangements for firefighters suffering from a range of work-related cancers must include volunteer firefighters such as Country Fire Service (CFS) personnel. Volunteer Firefighters Must Be Covered by WorkCover SA Scheme – Greens Greens: Volunteer Firefighters Must Be Covered by Scheme “The proposed changes to give [...]

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Workcover SA scheme may have changes but it is not in trouble – WTF

By on November 6, 2012 in Politics, WorkCover SA, WTF

Last week Kevin Purse-a senior research fellow at Central Queensland University and a former WorkCover director-claimed that the WorkCover scheme is not financially robust and is more like a “near-death experience” (The Advertiser, 30/10/12), but Bentley says this cannot go unchallenged (WTF!). Workcover SA scheme may have changes but it is not in trouble – [...]

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Workcover SA: smoke, fire or slow burn?

By on November 1, 2012 in Politics, WorkCover SA

The audited financial report for the Corporation for the year ended 30 June 2012 was tabled in Parliament on 16 October 2012 and it showed a significant deterioration in the WorkCover Scheme’s performance, due in large part to an increase in the outstanding claims liability for the fund. Workcover SA: smoke, fire or slow burn? [...]

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Workcover draconian changes fail to end financial woes: Kevin Purse

By on October 30, 2012 in Politics, WorkCover, WorkCover SA

Former WorkCover director Dr Kevin Purse shares some insights into the nation’s workers’ compensation scheme. THE latest spin from WorkCover is that its financial position “remains robust”. If only it were so. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Workcover draconian changes fail to end financial woes: Kevin Purse WorkCover’s draconian changes slash entitlements [...]

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