News

Case review: Tribunal accepts two injured worker’s Comcare claims but rejects a third claim

Case review: Tribunal accepts two injured worker’s Comcare claims but rejects a third claim

In this case review, Ms Quirk, who worked as a data processer for Services Australia (Medicare division), claimed Comcare workers’ compensation for three different injuries - carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS), tennis elbow (epicondylitis) and De Quervain’s disease. Compensation for two of the injuries was initially declined by Comcare, and the third injury was initially accepted but subsequently, payments were ceased.
Read more
How to maximise your chances of a successful TPD claim

How to maximise your chances of a successful TPD claim

TPD insurance provides financial assistance if you're unable to work due to illness or injury. However, the TPD claims process can be complex and stressful, especially when you're already facing health challenges. This blog provides practical tips to help you maximise your chances of successfully applying for a TPD benefit.
Read more
Administrative Review Tribunal replaces Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Administrative Review Tribunal replaces Administrative Appeals Tribunal

In 2022, the Australian federal government recognised the need to effect a major overhaul of the system of review of administrative decisions in Australia. On 14 October 2024, the Administrative Review Tribunal (AAT) ceased to exist and was replaced by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).
Read more
Rejected Comcare Claim After Ankle Injury | Case Review

Rejected Comcare Claim After Ankle Injury - Case Review

In this Comcare case review, we look at a decision of the AAT to uphold a decision by Australia Post Corporation (a self-insurer for worker’s compensation) to reject her application for Comcare worker’s compensation.
Read more
Loss of wages in Comcare claims - how are they calculated?

Loss of wages in Comcare claims - how are they calculated?

If you’re injured at work and covered by the Comcare scheme (the federal workers’ compensation scheme), you’ll be entitled to a range of benefits, for example, weekly payments and costs of medical treatment. In this article, we have a close look at how weekly benefits (loss of wages) are calculated.
Read more
Common law claims when injured at work in Queensland

Common law claims when injured at work in Queensland

In Queensland, if you suffer a workplace injury or illness, in addition to your worker’s compensation statutory entitlements (like weekly payments and medical expenses), you may be entitled to bring a common law claim for damages due to the impact your injury has had on your life, and in particular your ability to earn income.
Read more
Child sexual abuse claims with limited evidence or witnesses

Child sexual abuse claims with limited evidence or witnesses

It is not uncommon for survivors of child sexual abuse to be unable to recall the name of the individual who abused them or specific details about dates, times, places etc. Many survivors were only young children when the abuse occurred. So, if a potential claimant can’t recall very specific details about the abuse, are they able to bring a compensation claim due to the abuse?
Read more
Compensation for workplace bullying and harassment

Compensation for workplace bullying and harassment

The law in Queensland provides certain cover for workers who have suffered a psychological injury due to being bullied and/or harassed in the workplace. We look at three options for compensation after workplace bullying and/or harassment.
Read more
What to do if Comcare ceases your worker’s compensation claim

What to do if Comcare ceases your worker’s compensation claim

We examine some of the more important things to keep in mind if you are considering disputing Comcare’s decision to stop or cease your claim for worker’s compensation or not decline the claim in the first instance.
Read more
Disputing a worker’s compensation claim decision in the Northern Territory

Disputing a worker’s compensation claim decision in the Northern Territory

Many worker’s compensation claims are accepted once the claim is lodged, but some are rejected or there is some other dispute about the claim. We look at what you need to know about disputing a decision to deny an NT worker’s compensation claim or to cease an accepted claim.
Read more
NT worker’s compensation - injured worker loses appeal to combine permanent impairment assessments

NT worker’s compensation - injured worker loses appeal to combine permanent impairment assessments

In November 2023, the Work Health Court (NT) denied an injured worker’s claim to combine two permanent impairment assessments from two separate NT worker’s compensation claims. The worker appealed that decision, however, that appeal failed. We review the case here.
Read more
Child sexual abuse survivor loses appeal to sue for loss of earnings

Child sexual abuse survivor loses appeal to sue for loss of earnings

We examine a 2024 Victorian Court of Appeal case where a child sexual abuse survivor was granted permission to revisit a claim for pain and suffering damages, settled almost a decade earlier. However, he was not able to claim for economic loss (loss of earnings) in the new proceedings.
Read more