WorkCover insurance

If you engage employees (including common law employees or apprentices), you must have compulsory workers’ compensation insurance through WorkCover Queensland, under the Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003.

WorkCover insurance covers:

• Injured workers for loss of capacity and income and medical expenses caused by a work-related injury or illness under statutory entitlements
• Employers against injured employees making common law claims against them.

All employees should be registered with WorkCover, but it’s their decision whether to claim compensation.

Compensation claims

If one of your employees is injured at work, you’re responsible for immediately notifying WorkCover Queensland of the injury if it might be claimed under compensation. You should report the incident as soon as you know the details.

If a WorkCover claim is accepted, you must be cooperative and participate with rehabilitation and finding suitable duties for your employee’s return to work. You should also keep WorkCover informed of their progress, which will help get your employee back to work as quickly and safely as possible.

As an employer, you have the right to raise any concerns with your WorkCover claims representative or customer advisor throughout the duration of the claim. This could include disputing the claim or a decision made about the claim.