Share a workcover tip Archive1

Workcover tips

Know a dirty workcover insurance tactic? Any tips? Tricks? Share them!

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82 Responses to Share a workcover tip Archive1

george kosir March 27, 2012 at 6:52 PM #

I would like to hear from anyone who has been assessed by a dr saxby from brisbane. this doctor is not independant and is there solely to write false reports for queensland workcover. i have put a complaint against saxby to ahpra. i would love to hear from other injured workers assessed by this evil doctor.

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- S Brill April 16, 2013 at 5:18 PM #
  
  Hi George, while not assessed by Dr Saxby I have been assessed twice by a clone Dr who basically works for the insurance company. Having laid a formal complaint myself I unfortunately have to tell you that the response is unlikely be favourable. They use the party line that the Dr is entitled to his/her opinion/diagnosis and as such there is no cause to investigate further. The systems of complaint tend to favour the insurance companies as well. I wish you luck.
  
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  - georgebkosir April 21, 2013 at 7:20 PM #
    
    thanks for your reply. what amazes me is that i am in line for my fourth operation which saxby said i had nothing wrong. i complained to ahpra and they did nothing. what chance has an injured worker got with a serious injury diagnosed by many other independant specialists when the investigators who investigate dodgy doctors do nothing. ahpra did not even interview me or investigate this matter so i would hate to be an injured worker in this country. i will not let this matter go and now i have to find out who investigates ahpra.
    
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Anonymous email April 9, 2012 at 9:53 AM #

Here are a few sites that allow you to send anonymous email:

http://sendanonymousemail.net/
http://anonymouse.org/

It is always recommended to use Tor when browsing to the above sites (or any other site you don’t wnat your own ISP to know about):

https://torproject.org/

The Tor Project (open source) will completely mask your browsing activity by encrypting and routing your connection through at least 3 other connections located around the world.

All of the above are free.

Be strong my friends!

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- Also... April 9, 2012 at 10:38 AM #
  
  Another good one for pastes:
  
  http://www.pastebay.net/ (be sure to select retain “forever”)
  
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workcovervictim3 April 13, 2012 at 3:58 PM #
@WorkCoverLeaks kindly alerted us via Twitter of the following useful article:

WorkiLeaks: How to Be a Workplace Leaker Without Getting Caught

In the interest of protecting future moles and whistleblowers, we’ve assembled a list of Dos and Don’ts for leaking safely:
- Don’t use your work computer or work phone to communicate with the recipient of your leaks.
- Give yourself a code name. It won’t help protect you, but it’ll make you feel cool.
- Don’t e-mail documents you want to leak to your private account. Print them out or take a picture of the document displayed on your computer screen with your personal phone.
- Don’t give away personal details that are identifying if you want to remain anonymous — like calling yourself the “only liberal working at Fox News.”
- Be aware that the document you plan to leak could be seeded with information designed to catch a leaker. One parent company we know (which shall remain nameless) used to send slightly different versions of the same leakworthy document to different departments to hone in on the leaker once they were published.
- Documents you find lying around at the printer or fax machine are far easier to leak anonymously than digital ones.
- Don’t leak information from inside a media organization owned by Rupert Murdoch, or any other company that employs hackers. They have ways of hearing you talk.
- Make sure the document you want to release has been shared widely enough so that the digital trail linking you to it won’t incriminate you the way that accessing the video busted Gawker’s leaker.
- Handing over documents to a recipient in person is almost always better than e-mailing them.
- Better yet, don’t give the recipient a document at all; read it over the phone. It’s easier to be a source of information, rather than a leaker of documents. Computers leave trails — always.
- If you must communicate with the recipient electronically, use a throwaway e-mail account, preferably on a computer you don’t own. Don’t use your real name and details to register the account, and use an open Wi-Fi connection at a cafe to send your communication. Realize that some employers are so notoriously anti-leak that they will fire you for not letting them examine your personal e-mail accounts or devices.
- Don’t tell anyone — except your priest, rabbi or imam — that you’re the source. Especially don’t confide your crime to a hacker you met online.
- Don’t read or talk about the leaked story at work — UNLESS someone sends it to you.
- Don’t look paranoid or guilty. No one knows what you did. Or probably no one knows.
- Only leak to respected news outlets like, say, Wired. Getting fired for leaking to Gawker? That way lies only ridicule and shame, and perhaps an unpaid internship under the slave control of Nick Denton.
Read the full article: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/04/workileaks/

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None April 22, 2012 at 8:17 PM #

A good question, and a good answer:

http://www.healthshare.com.au/questions/45521-what-to-do-when-workcover-is-debilitating-and-not-improving-my-health-problem

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Not sure April 23, 2012 at 9:50 AM #

A colleague of mine knows about the injured support group in Sydney. He told me that the support group is is actually run by a registered rehabilitation service provider for workcover NSW….

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- hmm April 23, 2012 at 10:08 AM #
  
  Oh dear
  
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- helper April 25, 2012 at 4:29 PM #
  
  yes that is true but they are largely focused on helping.
  
  it is a provider like this that can assist with your battle.. trust me.
  
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helper April 25, 2012 at 4:28 PM #

For those NSW Workcover injured workers

If you think that you require re-training, request a rehabilitation provider.

Request one of your own. Ask your union or any one on here.

If the provider is supportive of expensive re-training which you think will get you a job but you know the insurer won’t approve, nevermind

Make sure the rehab provider still recommends the re-training in their report.

once this goes to the insurer they will probably talk to the rehab provider to say they won’t approve.

You must request the rehab provider put a submission for the insurer to consider approval

Under the legislation they have time frames to make a determination i.e. approve or not approve this submission. My understanding is it can only come from a rehab provider. Solicitors or injured workers can request the re-training review, but it has to come about from a professional opinion i.e. rehab provider via a vocational assessment.

If the insurer does not approve, contact Workcover CAS and request an investigation. your case will be successful if you justify the need, e.g out of work a long time, there are jobs after the training etc.

You will be suprised what workcover will approve compared to what the insurer won’t approve.

has anyone had success with this approach?

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- michele April 25, 2012 at 5:10 PM #
  
  Absolutely if your rehab provider is working for YOU then they’ll do the work and make a case for retraining.If there not find one who will!!!
  
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  - workcovervictim3 April 25, 2012 at 7:20 PM #
    
    Seriously injured and in Vic, I pursued my “retraining” to the full as above and sought an independent but registered rehab provider (and NOT one of 3 rehab providers the insurer gives you). Against my union’s belief, I won a case for re-training at UNIVERSITY level, which is “unheard of”. Usually workcover will only pay for short courses (i.e. TAFE) to a certain value. Don’t be intimidated! I WON at conciliation.
    
    Unfortunately for me I never completed the studies due to the many complications I suffered, but I still have the Conciliation certificate.
    
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    - Tara May 25, 2012 at 3:21 PM #
      
      Wow a uni course,I cound’t even get retaining at tafe,they gave me a 4 wk,one day a wk course.I went the first day,and said this is not the course that I picked,printing error by cgu..Not offered another course..Yr lucky u got that. Your yr feeling a bit better now..
      
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      - workcovervictim May 25, 2012 at 4:56 PM #
        
        Re retraining, you must not forget that the insurer will – naturally- look at your PRE-injury level of education and salary. For example if you had a uni degree or a masters it is only reasonable that you be allowed to retrain at the same level as you will need to get to the same pre-injury salary and a sustainable appropriate job. A trained vet should not be expected to re-train as a receptionist, if that makes sense. If you were for example a care assistant before your injury with limited education (i.e. course, TAFE), then they many only offer you a short course as,for example, a ward clerk. The value of retraining is also capped in Vic .
        
        I was -eventually- offered half a uni course (but mind you I had a Masters degree pre-injury).
        
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helper April 27, 2012 at 8:47 AM #

For injured workers – NSW scheme who are suffering secondary stressors to their physical injury – if you feel fit for the same, ensure you are accessing some form of counselling and that this is approved by the insurance company. Tips regarding insurer resistance with this kind of treatment;

The legislation states you are entitled to 6 approval free sessions with a counsellor or psychologist.

Ensure your NTD writes this on your medical certificate and makes a referral to the counsellor/psychologist.

It is with this counselling that may be able to assist you to better manage your secondary depression (which regularly occurs as a result of being caught up in the injury management process, let alone loss of physical capacity).

If there is any kind of DSM IV depressive diagnosis, (i.e. depression, adjustment disorder, ptsd etc) also try to ensure your NTD sends you to a psychiatrist to confirm the same.

This can assist with any S66 67 pain and suffering payments if you are in this threshold of WPI. I.e. A treating psychiatrist, NTD and Psychologist/Counsellor is stronger than an IME psychiatrist at any WCC dispute if it goes down that path and definitely if it is work injury damages claim you are pursuing the more on your team recognising a diagnosis, the better

Secondary depression / anxiety is an absolute real symptom which needs to be recognised and acted upon, more so than putting a pill to it with anti-depressant meds. I hope this helps any disheartened injured workers to access treatment that perhaps they weren’t aware of and which in the big picture may not seem overly helpful, but can atleast be pursued as another option in this poor scheme for injured workers.

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- workcovervictim3 April 27, 2012 at 10:06 AM #
  
  Thank you “Helper” for this valuable information for those injured in NSW.
  
  In Victoria, you can have your psychological counseling approved and paid for by WorkSafe (your insurer). The sessions are NOT limited. All you need is a referral from you treating doctor addressing the need for professional psychological counseling, explaining your diagnosis (i.e. primary OR secondary depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, PTSD etc). The workcover insurer will of course try its best to deny you psych counseling, but remember that if they do so, you can appeal their dipstick decision at Conciliation. At conciliation, ensure you have supporting reports from your treaters as why you would benefit from psych counseling.
  
  I have had psych counseling for many years, paid for by the insurer. Yes, they have tried to take this away from me, but we won conciliation and conciliation ruled that under the ACT I was allowed to have as many psych counseling sessions as needed (indefinitely). I currently see both a psychiatrist and a psychologist.
  
  My secondary psych injuries were made a hundred times worse by the way I have and man being treated by my case manager and by my former employer.. I kid you not… it has all been very well documented by my treaters. Fact is that many injured workers develop serious secondary mental injuries BECAUSE the way they are being treated by workcover.
  
  Ensure you DOCUMENT everything!
  
  Should workcover (in VIC) deny you psych counseling, and you are waiting for conciliation but need urgent treatment, ask your psychologist to treat you on Medicare (free) via a mental health plan. Medicare can then also be reimbursed should you win conciliation.
  
  Also consider asking your doctor for a referral to a Psychiatrist. Workcover insurers have more difficulty denying treatment with a psychiatrist.
  
  Also, workcover insurers will eventually send you to an IME psych to “see whether you need psychological treatment” – so it’s always a very good idea to have had at least a visit or 3 to your OWN , honest, psychiartist. Your treating psychologist can also refer you to a psychiatrist.
  
  The message is simple: LOOK AFTER YOURSELF – don’t live the workers comp nightmare on your own – all seriously injured workers NEED psychological support. REACH out.
  
  In my personal case, having a life line made the difference between committing suicide and not doing it – I didn’t and I am forever grateful and indebted to my psychologist. I also benefit immensely by having ongoing psych counseling as it prevents me from slipping “backwards” (downhill) – this is also a good point to remember for arguing your case.
  
  An excellent psychologist is located on the sidebar (right hand side) for those who live in Melbourne (Vic). Pam is well versed in all dirty things workcover and will kick butt with you – just mention this blog (or LISA from aworkcovervictimsdiary) and consider yourself a “patient”.
  
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  - workcovervictim April 27, 2012 at 10:14 AM #
    Like my psychiatrist stated ” DON’T BE A STATISTIC”!
    
    Remember, folks, that going to a psychiatrist or a psychologist does not mean that you are “nuts” – don’t be embarrassed, ashamed or anything like that. Those people are there for abused, fragile and injured people like us.
    
    Many injured workers have developed serious secondary psych injuries because of the way they are/have been treated by the workcover system, and many have been compensated for those injuries as they are “part of your injury” regardless of whether they occured at work or as part of the way your claim is/was being handled. So it is extremely important that your psychological/psychiatric injuries are DOCUMENTED (be it depression, anxiety, PTSD, adjustment disorder, agoraphobia, whatever…)
    
    ————————————————-
    
    Second, Ms Davis’s psychological symptoms developed in 2005, not 2008, and the evidence from Ms Marshell clearly linked those symptoms to her physical injuries and the claim for compensation for those injuries. The management of a claim for compensation is as much a part of the claim as the treatment of the injury.
    
    From the legal case: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/nsw/NSWWCCPD/2011/4.html
    
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    - ahhh ahhha hhahh April 27, 2012 at 10:59 AM #
      
      Ahh, The Ladies again.
      
      Allianz, home of bullies.
      
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    - helper April 27, 2012 at 3:48 PM #
      
      I am aware of a case in NSW where the injured worker was bullied by the insurer to attend an IME for a physical injury 2 hours from his home, when there was a local IME 30 minutes from his home. the injured worker was working full time suitable duties. therefore no LTI whatsoever. the injured worker was adivsed they MUST attend and that their shifts at work woul dbe changed around so that they had NO EXCUSE not to attend.
      
      A claim for primary psychological injury from this repeat harassment (across 2 lengthy phone conversations) and then a letter notifying the date time and location of the assessment (2 hours from their home) and a map to the IME”s rooms which were 30 minutes from their home. The claim for was lodged and subsequently declined as work was not considered to be a significant contributing factor given the ‘injury’ was sustained whilst dealing with the insurance company.
      
      I find this absolutely ridiculous. This injured worker has been bullied by his employer’s insurer (representative) who held the capacity to change his shifts, yet it is not considered work related.
      
      If only Workcover kept their agent’s more in line.
      
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      - SICK & TIRED May 25, 2012 at 3:35 AM #
        
        I am constantly being called in for RTW meetings and medical appointments which are a 3 hour train journey from my home and workplace, there are only 2 trains a day and each trip costs about $60.00, sometimes I have to wait hours after the meeting or appointment to get home. I leave home at 5am and dont get back till about 7.30pm. what the heck I am injured. I have been told by workcover that I have to attend and cannot object because of distance. I am yet to be reimbursed for my travel. The latest is employer booking meetings and cancelling at last minute, so I am either on the train at the time or too late to reschedule my ticket $60 down the drain….
        
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        WorkcoverVictim May 25, 2012 at 9:46 AM #
        
        I would suggest to you that you take a witness with you to all “scheduled” RTW meetings. For example a friend, a union rep or even your treating psychologist.By taking someone with you, especially a union rep or your psychologist you will notice that you may be treated with much more respect. Also, keep all meeting requests in writing and document all what was said and done at those “meetings” too. Discuss the impact these “meetings” (and cancellations) have on your well-being with your doctor/psych for the sake of documenting the stress you endure. I would also put the very issues about transport difficulties and associated costs in writing to your employer, and to your insurer – again for the sake of documentation. Ask if it would be possible to attend those “meetings” via dial-in (telephone) or video conferencing. Perhaps ask your treater(s) for a medical certificate stating that you are “not fit” to travel such a distance(s) so often…? You may also want to request your insurer pre-pays your fares, based on financial stress! They may even give you taxi travel if your doctor can make a case…
        
        As someone else posted on our tips not long ago:
        
        RETURN TO WORK
        
        Please ensure that you take along a witness (union member, advocate) to ALL your return to work meetings and/or return to work trials. You will be amazed at what gets “reported” in writing about you (what was done and said, your level of “cooperation etc.) versus what ACTUALLY happened. This is extremely important, especially when your RTW goes haywire and your employer and /or workcover insurer tries to paint an “unfavourable” picture about you to mitigate their losses (incl. to terminate you based on your bahaviour and/or performance).
        
        I have personally been saved by having a reliable witness who took notes of what was said and what was done during those meetings and trials. At the end of the day it is your word versus “theirs” and if you have a reliable witness (who documented everything) the TRUTH will prevail!
        
        Lucy M May 3, 2013 at 1:24 AM #
        
        Dear sick and tired,
        
        Ask you insurer for a taxi for those long journeys. It can be done I am supplied with a taxi if I have to meet up with EML(insurer) in the city as I can not walk the long distance from the paid car parks you can also ask for a taxi to med appts, so if then the appt was cancelled the insurers will get annoyed with your employer…. I hope
Parrot watchers April 27, 2012 at 9:45 AM #

Watch out for despicable private investigators posing as parrot watchers:

“I had prepared print outs on an endangered parrot and this came in handy when a local approached the car and asked what I was doing. Told him I was a volunteer monitoring parrots in the area. I gave him a sheet on the parrot and he went away happy.”

http://forum.trainingschool.com.au/surveillance/be-prepaired-with-seraillance-excuse-carry-insect-spray/msg13769/#msg13769

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- workcovervictim April 27, 2012 at 10:14 AM #
  
  F*cking DISGUSTING
  
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Collienew April 28, 2012 at 8:43 AM #

Heres another quote from the website mentioned above

“Although there is a OH&S requirement in the industry, I do not know one agent or company that follows the procedure..”

This displays the mindset of these people
Shameful,unlawful and all sponsored by workcover
What else would we expect?
These people are a HUGE liability as we can plainly see
Collienew

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workcovervictim May 10, 2012 at 5:14 PM #

Fresh from our forum a real good idea: you may want to consider adding the following paragraph in all your social media pages/posts and perhaps some correspondence:

legal notice. Names dates injury’s or images may not reflect accurate information and may not be relied upon what so ever. Any information is to be considered fictional and not factual in anyway what so ever and may not be relied upon in a court of law.

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workcovervictim3 May 20, 2012 at 9:58 AM #

If you need/want to make a complaint about the way your workcover insurer is dealing with your claim, don’t use WorkSafe Advisory Service (!) – use the complaints department. This tip was provided to us by a great workers consultant from WorkCover Assist!

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workcovervictim3 May 21, 2012 at 6:28 PM #

Not a tip but a plea for some help – by popular demand we’re planning on adding all the relevant legislation & important documents (i.e. case manager/claims manual etc) to our blog under our resources, BY STATE. Could you all please make an effort to help us locate relevant documents in your state? We need more resources for all states except Victoria. Simply add the links to relevant documents below and we’ll add them to our resources (per state). Thank you muchly

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someone May 24, 2012 at 12:15 PM #

Also, does anyone know a “Carmelita Bennett” who may be a case manager (possibly in SA)?

Does anyone know of any case manager who has infiltrated your Facebook (tried to befriend) you to gain info? Please let me know.

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workcovervictim May 24, 2012 at 6:14 PM #

Objecting to “independent” medical assessments – Tim kindly shared this information which is available on his website.

http://www.hereticpress.com/Dogstar/Psychology/Protect.html

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JO May 20, 2013 at 2:40 PM #

If you are hurt at Work; Do not submit to an interview from ANYONE not the Insurer, a third party NOBODY if asked refer them to your Union if you have one, if not decline it.

Do not trust or believe an Insurance Co case Manager no matter how friendly and helpful they may seem. They are there to get you through the system as fast (Cheap) as possible not to actually HELP you. You will also be amazed at how caddy / childish and unprofessional a case manager can be if they’re not happy with something or they think you’ve made their job difficult.

Check your privacy on Facebook etc and don’t add anyone you don’t know, Change your email address password to something harder with numbers and symbols if your work/ Insurance Co has your email address.

Install an answering machine etc to screen your calls as Work/ Case Managers may ring to check on your welfare when really checking you are home and current Address for covert surveillance etc. The best way to deal with them is by Letter with their Logo/details on it so this can be used if you need to go to conciliation, apparently printed emails mean nothing? as they can be tampered with and not trusted. If you have ongoing calls (nuisance etc) have you number changed to a silent/ unlisted type (Pain in the Bum but worth it)

Don’t expect to have privacy even in you own backyard as the covert surveillance people with do anything to try and film or take your (and Family + friends) picture at any hour of the day or night, even approaching neighbours for information and access to their property to watch you. Expect to be followed into shops / supermarkets etc Also when leaving your property it pays to take a few unusual streets and double back on where you have been which generally shows up a tail. I’ve seen reports from these private investigators who do background checks on everything from your friends and family to financial and credit checks on you! Oh another thing if you have home WiFi make sure it is at least WPA-2 encrypted as these PI’s will also try to snoop your PC’s etc if they are close enough. If the Insurer contacts you telling you they are reviewing your case it usually means you are under covert surveillance too.

Make sure your Worksafe Certificate of Capacity is all correct (cross your T’s and dot your i’s and dates) and make sure you keep a copy of each as one of the tricks Insurance Co’s used to play was it must have gone missing in the Mail, Its good practice to email a copy to them also; This was recommended to me by the then Workcover Minister. If you send in other Forms/ Claim reimbursement/ receipts send them with the Cert of of Capacity so they don’t also go missing.

Be wary of people coming to you Door or approaching you doing surveys etc or one trick is for them to knock on your Door saying they are from a finance Co looking for ‘Joe Blog’ etc then ask you to prove you are not ‘Joe Blog’ by showing some sort of ID; as soon as you open the Flywire/Door and show them ID etc they have now confirmed with a Pen/hidden Camera etc that Its is actually you they have been filming not someone else. Be wary of people doing jog by’s of your property then getting in a Car down the Road.

When outside try to wear Sunglasses and Hat etc as they can’t really make positive ID. I’ve seen some of the Photo’s the surveillance person took of me which is actually the Neighbour! with a Hat and Sunglasses he looks like me lol Oh and believe me these covert surveillance people are not honest, if they don’t see you or there is no activity etc they will make shit up! even if it doesn’t involve you they will log some sort of activity to show they were there when really they weren’t.

Consider having installed your own movement activated surveillance Camera’s; you can then usually pick up these covert surveillance people on the job then write down their rego number etc as well as knowing what they look like.

I wish I had done some of these things when I was first Injured but being naive you expect to get better and not have to go through this Bullshit existence.

Another sign you are under/have been under surveillance is a letter from the Electoral Commission asking you to update your Address details (Investigators have made an enquiry)

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