What injuries are covered by WorkCover? < Back

What is covered?
Compensation is paid for:
  • Injuries that occur at work or during work activities (including lunch breaks)

  • Any disease caused by work

  • Any disease or pre-existing condition made worse by work

  • Injuries suffered whilst travelling as part of work

  • Injuries suffered whilst having medical treatment for a separate work injury
What type of diseases are covered?
If work has caused a disease or made a real contribution to worsening a pre-existing (and even non-work related) disease, compensation is payable. Work does not have to be the sole or even major contributing factor to the worsening of the disease. The number of diseases that can be covered by WorkCover is large and includes: If you think work made your condition worse, contact WORKFORCE LEGAL to discuss making a claim.

Am I covered travelling to and from work?
In most cases, WorkCover does not apply when travelling to and from home and work. There can however be some arguments about when you actually reach work. For example if you fall in a car park, WorkCover may cover you if work controls that car park even though you have not arrived at your workstation. If, however the car park is for general public use, you will be considered as still traveling to work.

There are some circumstances where you can still be covered for an injury that happens when traveling between work and home, if work has contributed to that injury. If a maintenance worker fell asleep, for example, on the way home and ran off the road because he or she had been without sleep for 24 hours due a work emergency, they would be covered.

If you are not covered by WorkCover and your injury involves a motor vehicle or public transport accident you may be entitled to Transport Accident Compensation (TAC) benefits or able to pursue a claim for damages. For further information regarding transport accidents we recommend Burt & Davies, expert transport injury lawyers: www.burtdavies.com.au.

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