Workers compensation can support you if you need time off work because you:

• got hurt at work
• got sick because of your work.

It can also help you be safe when you come back to work.

On this page:

• What is workers compensation
• What you must do
• Reporting an injury or accident
• Where you can find out more
• Other pages that might help you

There is a type of insurance If you have insurance and something goes wrong, your insurance company pays the cost. that can support you if you get hurt at work.

We call this type of insurance workers compensation. Workers compensation is an insurance that pays workers who get hurt at work.

All employers An employer hires people to work for them. must have this insurance.

And it should cover everyone who works for them.

This is the law.

Workers compensation can pay for:

• the money you would earn if you could still work
• medical costs – like doctors or hospitals
• support to come back to work
• bigger payments if your injury or sickness will last your whole life.

Some types of workers compensation include mental health.

You can visit the Safe Work Australia website to find out more.

You must help to make your workplace A workplace is any place you might work, such as an office, factory or shop. safe.

To do this you can:

• report anything in your workplace that might be unsafe
• get medical support if you are hurt
• tell your employer how you got hurt.

If you get hurt at work you might have an injury management plan. An injury management plan includes goals to help you get better and come back to work.

You make your injury management plan with:

• your employer
• a doctor
• your workers compensation insurance company.

You can find out more about how to stay safe at work on our page about your role in work health and safety.

You should tell your employer if you:

• are injured at work
• are in an accident
• see an accident happen.

You should tell your employer as soon as you can.

Your employer should help you report what happened.

You can report it yourself.

Or you can ask someone else to report it for you.

You should see a doctor about your injury.

They might tell you to take time off work.

If they do, they will give you a:

• medical certificate – to say that you can’t work
• or
• work capacity certificate – to say how much you can work.

You should also make a claim When you make a claim, you tell the insurance company what happened and ask for their support. with your workers compensation insurance company.

Some insurance companies let you make a claim on the phone.

You can also talk to your workers compensation insurance company if you:

• get sick because of your work
• your work affects your mental health.

If you work for the Australian Government you can visit the Comcare website to find out more.

If you want to know more about workers compensation, you can ask your employer.

You can also get in touch with the workers compensation scheme in your state or territory:

• ACT – WorkSafe ACT
• NSW – SafeWork NSW
• NT – NT WorkSafe
• QLD – WorkSafe Queensland
• SA – ReturnToWorkSA
• TAS – WorkSafe Tasmania
• VIC – WorkSafe Victoria
• WA – WorkCover WA

You can also visit these websites to find out more:

• Safe Work Australia
• healthdirect
• Fair Work Ombudsman

Returning to work after injury or illness

Your role in work health and safety