Workers' compensation and the Comcare scheme

What is workers’ compensation?

Workers' compensation is insurance for workers who become injured or ill because of work. Workers don’t have to pay to be covered – employers pay workers compensation premiums or directly fund their workers’ compensation costs. You’re covered as soon as you start work for any employer. 

Workers’ compensation can cover things like:

• medical treatment and supports
• income support while you can’t work
• rehabilitation costs. 

It can also provide compensation if you have a permanent injury or illness and compensation for your family if you die because of your work.

You need to submit a claim before you can receive workers’ compensation. The claim is assessed to determine if you are eligible for compensation. If your initial claim is accepted, you can then claim for specific benefits and supports.

Workers’ compensation schemes in Australia

Australia has several workers’ compensation schemes. There are state and territory government schemes that cover most workers in that state or territory. 

The Comcare workers’ compensation scheme is a separate scheme that covers Australian Government employees wherever they work across Australia, and employees of ‘self-insured licensees’. 

Self-insured licensees are organisations with a licence to manage and fund their own workers’ compensation under the Comcare scheme. Most are corporations with employees in several Australian states, such as Australia Post and Telstra.

How do I know if I’m covered by the Comcare scheme?

You are covered by the Comcare workers' compensation scheme if you work for:

• an Australian Government department, agency or authority
• a self-insured licensee.

If you’re not sure who you’re covered by, you can ask your employer. 

How the Comcare scheme works

The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act) sets out the rules about the Comcare workers' compensation scheme, including:

• who is covered
• what injuries and illnesses are covered
• how claims are managed
• what benefits an eligible employee can receive.

The Comcare scheme is a no-fault workers' compensation scheme. You don’t have to show that your employer has done anything wrong for an injury or illness to be eligible for compensation.

What type of injuries and illnesses are covered?

If you meet the claim assessment criteria, you can claim workers’ compensation for a physical or psychological injury or illness, or for an aggravation of an existing injury or illness.

How claims are managed

Every employer in the Comcare scheme must follow the same rules set out by the SRC Act, but how they do it can vary. You can talk to your employer about how things are managed for your workplace.

Australian Government departments, agencies and authorities pay annual premiums to Comcare to cover their workers’ compensation. For most of these organisations, Comcare manages workers’ compensation claims, including assessing claims and making compensation payments to workers. There are 2 exceptions to this: the Australian Taxation Office and Services Australia manage claims through third-party claims managers.

Self-insured licensees manage their own workers’ compensation claims and pay out costs directly.