Workers’ Compensation – Workplace Injury

Lodging a claim

When a worker can lodge a claim

If a worker is injured at work (PDF), they may be eligible for compensation under the department’s WorkCover insurance policy. A worker does not need to have time off from work to be eligible for entitlements. It is up to the worker whether they submit a workers’ compensation claim following a work-related injury or illness. If the claim is considered reasonable and/or necessary, the agent will support a worker with their medical and like expenses.

Please visit the WorkSafe Victoria website to understand the types of compensation an injured worker may be entitled to.

Use the New claim lodgement checklist form (DOCX) to assist with claim lodgement.

Actions for injured workers

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

• complete an eduSafe Plus incident or injury report within 30 days of the incident or injury. If the worker is unable to complete an incident or injury report for any reason, the return to work coordinator is required to enter the incident or injury on to eduSafe Plus
• complete a worker’s injury claim form and provide this with a completed certificate of capacity certified/prepared by a medical practitioner (for example, a general practitioner), to the principal (in the case of employment at more than one school, this is the principal of the school which has management for the worker’s salary and leave entitlements) within 30 days if possible. Note:
  • the first certificate of capacity can cover up to the first 14 calendar days of days off work. From then on, the certificate of capacity is required to be provided for a maximum of 28 calendar days
  • if the forms are not submitted within 30 days, the return to work coordinator is required to provide all forms to the agent to review for liability purposes
• where possible, notify the principal or return to work coordinator, if appointed, of the need for leave and discuss the type of leave preferred to be applied in the interim until formal acceptance of the claim is confirmed
• keep the return to work coordinator informed about any progress and intentions regarding return to work and managing the injury, including medical treatment.

Workers have the right to:

• choose their treating health practitioners
• be legally represented
• have a support person during meetings with their return to work coordinator or in any other meeting they wish
• participate in the development of their return to work plan
• be consulted, involved and informed of any element regarding their claim
• have access to documents relating to their claim in the claim file managed by the agent.

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 not yet 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 to the agent, including the completed and signed question 7, no later than 3 business days after receiving it from the worker
  • complete and forward Part B of the worker’s injury claim form, any certificates of capacity and the 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:
  • forward the worker’s injury claim form Part A and B, any certificates of capacity and the employer injury claim report to the agent within 10 calendar days of receiving Part A from the worker
• if the principal/delegate or return to work coordinator believes that an injury/illness did not arise out of or in the course of employment, or arose from reasonable management action or serious and wilful misconduct, the principal/return to work coordinator should put a request to the agent when lodging the claim for further investigation with a description of their concerns around liability. The workers’ compensation team are available to support this process – refer to the Contacts and support chapter
• inform the worker of the claim being forwarded 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. Submit the form to the agent and forward the remaining documentation when received and completed.

Forms can be posted to:

Gallagher Bassett, Locked Bag 3570 GPO Melbourne, 3001

or emailed to educlaims@gbtpa.com.au

Note: The scheme registration number is 1624618.

Principal class officer claims

The department’s Return to Work and Compensation Team will appoint a return to work coordinator to assist and support principal class officers with their individual claims. Email rtwc.team@education.vic.gov.au or phone the Workers’ Compensation Team on 03 7022 0780 for assistance.

Volunteer claims

Volunteers are covered by the department’s workers’ compensation policy if they suffer personal injury in the course of engaging in school work on or off school premises (for example, school excursions).

For guidance about how best to support injured volunteers, schools can contact the Workers’ Compensation Team via phone on 03 7022 0780.

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