What is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance payment to employees if they are injured at work or become sick due to their work. Workers compensation includes payments to employees to cover their:
- wages while they’re not fit for work
- medical expenses and rehabilitation.
Employers in each state or territory have to take out workers’ compensation insurance to cover themselves and their employees.
Workers’ compensation legislative amendments: what you need to know
The Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (the Act) was passed by the Queensland Parliament on 22 October 2019. The Act implements key recommendations from the 2018 Five-Year Review of Queensland’s Workers’ Compensation Scheme.
The new legislation amends the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 by enhancing the workers’ compensation claims experience for injured workers, and providing more support for vulnerable workers, particularly those with psychological injuries, to recover from their injury, rehabilitate and return to work. To see the full webinar on the changes, please click here.
When will the amendments take affect?
The amendments progressively come into effect from 30 October 2019 to 1 July 2020 to enable employers and insurers sufficient time to administratively prepare for, and comply with the new legislation.
Amendments that commence on 30 October 2019
Topics of Amendment are following. Should you wish to read more on the details of the amendments, please click here.
- Enhanced psychological support
- Insurer discretion to waive time limit if a worker is certified with an incapacity
- Rehabilitation and Return to Work – access to accredited programs
- Apologies and expressions of regret exempt from consideration in common law claims
- Work Cover-funded health and safety initiatives
Amendments that commence on 1 July 2020 include:
Topics of Amendment are following. Should you wish to read more on the details of the amendments, please click here.
- Requirement for self-insured employers to report injuries and payments to their insurer
- Workers’ compensation scheme coverage of unpaid interns
- Rehabilitation and Return to Work – coordinator details, qualifications and courses
The Act and explanatory notes are available on the Queensland legislation website.
Guidance material on the changes are being developed and will be published soon to assist employers and injured Queensland workers understand the changes however in the meantime you may wish to subscribe to Rehabilitation and return to work e-bulletin. To subscribe please click here.
