Workers’ Compensation – Workplace Injury

Lodging a claim

When a worker can lodge a claim

If a worker is injured at work (PDF)(opens in a new window), they may be eligible for compensation under the department’s WorkCover insurance policy. A worker does not need to have time off work to be eligible for entitlements. It is the worker’s choice whether to lodge a workers’ compensation claim for a work-related injury or illness. If the claim is accepted, the agent may pay reasonable and necessary medical and like expenses in line with Victorian workers’ compensation law.

Workers can visit the WorkSafe Victoria website for information about the types of compensation that may be available(opens in a new window).

For help lodging a claim, schools can use the eduSafe Plus Quick Reference Guide (staff login required)(opens in a new window). The guide explains how to submit and lodge a claim.

Actions for injured workers

Injured workers who want to make a workers’ compensation claim should:

• complete an eduSafe Plus (staff login required)(opens in a new window) incident or injury report within 30 days of the incident or injury. If the worker cannot complete the report for any reason, the return to work coordinator must enter the incident or injury into eduSafe Plus
• complete a worker’s injury claim form(opens in a new window) and give it, together with a certificate of capacity completed by a medical practitioner, such as a general practitioner, to the principal, within 30 days if possible. If the worker is employed at more than one school, they should give the form to the principal of the school that manages their salary and leave entitlements. The worker can also submit the claim through eduSafe Plus. Refer to the Knowledge Base (staff login required)(opens in a new window) for more information about how to submit a claim through eduSafe Plus. Note:
  • the first certificate of capacity can cover up to the first 14 calendar days of days off work
  • after that, each certificate of capacity can cover a maximum of 28 calendar days
  • if the forms are not submitted within 30 days, the return to work coordinator must still send all forms to the agent for review of liability
• where possible, notify the principal or return to work coordinator if they need leave and discuss which type of leave they would like to use until claim liability is decided
• keep the return to work coordinator informed about their progress, treatment and plans for returning to work.

Workers have the right to:

• choose their treating health practitioners
• have legal representation
• have a support person at meetings with the return to work coordinator or at any other meeting they attend
• take part in developing their return to work plan
• be consulted, involved and informed about their claim
• access documents about their claim held by the agent on the claim file.

Actions for principals or their delegates (including return to work coordinators)

If an injured worker makes a workers’ compensation claim, the principal, their delegate or the return to work coordinator must:

• acknowledge receipt of the claim in writing to the worker
• appoint a return to work coordinator, if one has not already been appointed. Refer to the Resources tab for return to work coordinator training
• for claims that include a mental injury:
  • forward Part A of the worker's injury claim form(opens in a new window) to the agent, including the completed and signed question 7, no later than 3 business days after receiving it from the worker
  • complete and send Part B of the worker’s injury claim form, any certificates of capacity and the employer injury claim report employer injury claim report to the agent no later than 10 calendar days after receiving Part A from the worker
• for claims for physical injury only:
  • send Part A and B of the injured worker’s injury claim form, any certificates of capacity and the employer injury claim report to the agent within 10 calendar days of receiving Part A from the worker
• tell the agent at the time of lodgement if they think the injury or illness was not caused by work, did not happen while working, or was caused by reasonable management action or serious and wilful misconduct. They should include the reasons for their concerns and ask for further investigation. The workers’ compensation team can support this process. Refer to the Contacts and support chapter
• tell the worker that the claim has been sent to the agent.

Note: The return to work coordinator must not delay claim lodgement if they have only received the worker’s injury claim form. They must send the form to the agent through eduSafe Plus or directly and then send the remaining documents when they are received and completed.

Forms can be submitted to the agent through eduSafe Plus using the compose email function. The department’s preferred method of claim lodgement is through eduSafe Plus. Refer to the Knowledge Base for more information on how to lodge a claim through eduSafe Plus.

Once the claim is lodged through eduSafe Plus, schools do not need to send the same documents to the agent by separate email.

If eduSafe Plus is not being used, forms can be emailed to educlaims@gbtpa.com.au.

Note: The scheme registration number is 1624618.

Principal class officer claims

For principal class officers, the department’s Return to Work and Compensation Team will appoint a return to work coordinator to provide support for the worker’s claim. For assistance, contact rtwc.team@education.vic.gov.au or phone 03 7022 0780.

Volunteer claims

Volunteers are covered by the department’s workers’ compensation policy if they suffer an injury while carrying out school work on or off school premises, for example, during a school excursion.

For advice on how to support an injured volunteer, schools can contact the Workers’ Compensation Team on 03 7022 0780.

For more information on the OHS management of volunteers in schools, refer to the Volunteer OHS Management policy.