What the scheme covers
- Weekly payments — a portion of your wages while you cannot work or can only work reduced hours;
- Medical and treatment expenses — hospital, physio, medication, rehabilitation and related travel (for new medical claims made from 1 October 2026, the treatment must be “reasonable and necessary”);
- Domestic assistance in some cases, where your injury makes it necessary;
- Lump sum compensation if your permanent impairment is assessed at more than 10% (at least 15% for a primary psychological injury);
- If a worker dies from a work injury, compensation for their dependants, including a lump sum.
The scheme covers injuries from workplace accidents and illnesses caused or made worse by work. Journeys between home and work are covered only where there is a real and substantial connection between your work and the accident. Psychological injuries can be covered too, but the law sets specific tests for them, and those tests changed in 2026.
What to do after an injury
- Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible and make sure it is recorded;
- See your doctor and get a certificate of capacity;
- Keep copies of everything the insurer sends you — especially any decision notices.
If the insurer says no
Insurers do dispute liability, cut off weekly payments and decline treatment. These decisions are not the end of the road. You can ask the insurer to review its decision, and it must give you the result within 14 days of your request; if the dispute is still not resolved, it can go to the Personal Injury Commission. Legal costs in a workers compensation dispute can be funded by the Independent Review Office (IRO): we apply for the funding for you, and the IRO decides each application against its funding criteria.
Permanent impairment
If your injury leaves lasting damage, you may be entitled to a lump sum based on your degree of permanent impairment, assessed by a permanent impairment assessor under the Workers Compensation Guidelines. You must get independent legal advice before the assessment starts, only one lump sum claim is allowed for an injury, and a second assessment is allowed only in limited circumstances. We give you that advice and make sure your medical evidence is complete before you are assessed.
Claim refused, payments stopped or a lump sum to pursue? See how we help with workers compensation claims and disputes.
If your injury may stop you working for good, you could also have a TPD claim on the insurance in your super. See how TPD claims work.