Australia has 11 workers’ compensation systems. It’s high time we published an updated comparison of -at least- each of the 8 Australian States & Territories systems, for ease of reference.
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AU Bureau of Statistics-only 27% of injured workers on workcover
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released a report on work injuries from July 2017 to June 2018 whic h shows that th number of of injured workers receiving financial assistance and workers compensation has dramatically decreased.

Carpal tunnel syndrome and workcover
We refer back to a recent question posed by “Blossom” regarding carpal tunnel syndrome and workcover. Unfortunately it appears that it is not straight forward to blame Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on work-related activities.

WorkCover travel reimbursement scams
An injured worker with Gallagher Bassett Services VIC received an email stating a change of policy to their travel reimbursement systems scams.

Injured Workers are subject to the whims of the insurance company
Let me ask you to picture this …You were badly injured at work and just had surgery. In this surgery, your surgeons literally touched and manipulated your bones. Metal was placed in your bones. When they were finished screwing and sawing your bones, they sowed your skin together and sent you to the ward with a Morphine pump for pain control.Then after a day or two in the hospital, you are sent home to recover…

AMA Guides and impairment rating are problematic
In most Australian jurisdictions (states and territories), the American Medical Association Guides (AMA Guides) are the accepted assessment tool for injured workers’ permanent impairment rating. The problem with many AMA Guides (especially the older versions in use such as the AMA Guides 4th ed in Victoria) is that the rated impairment does not take into account the impact the impairment has on the injured worker. What should be measured is disability – that is, how the impairment really affects the injured worker.

Ahh Allianz – how can I arrgh-gravate you
When injured on the job, many workers may be surprised to learn that workcover insurance companies routinely stop payments or deny many workers comp benefits.Whilst we have previously written about common tactics used by insurance companies to minimise workers compensation payouts, this article focuses on manipulation of information, power, or a communication process to deny a benefit, in this case household help.

Your weekly payments have stopped but you are still injured
WorkCover weekly payments can be stopped for many reasons. If you receive a Notice from your workcover case manager/insurer stating that your weekly payments (income maintenance) are to be terminated you should seek legal advice as soon as possible, bearing in mind that there are strict time frames within which a dispute can be lodged.

Going interstate whilst on workcover
For a variety of different reasons, injured workers on the WorkCover system want or need to move interstate. Quite often, understandably, injured workers lack the ability, resources or support to properly look after themselves whilst injured, and feel that they need to reside interstate with family, partner or friends, at least until they recover. The question asked is what happens to an injured worker’s claim and weekly pay when they move interstate?

Workcover NSW – Caulfield case and lump sum claims
A recent Presidential Decision in the matter of Caulfield v Kartaway Pty Limited [2014] NSWWCCPD 34 (Caulfield) has clarified (or further confused) the recent High Court’s decision in the Goudappel case in relation to further claims for permanent impairment in NSW.
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