Sciacca’s Lawyers continues to provide an initial free consultation for police to assist in either lodging their WorkCover claims or seeking advice on prospects of success in reviewing unfavourable decisions.
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Sciaccas Lawyers have been offering legal services to members of the Queensland Police Union of Employees (QPUE) for approximately 10 years. The focus of the advices that we have provided relate to the Workcover processes and common law claims for damages arising out of injuries suffered in the course of employment and/or as a result of motor vehicle accidents.
In the current economic client, many workers’ are finding themselves under increasing pressure from their employers to meet heavier and heavier workloads, whilst at the same time having less resources and support available to do so. It is therefore hardly surprising that workers’ compensation claims involving workplace stress are on the rise. In fact, recent figures published by Safe Work Australia suggest that 95% of workers’ compensation claims for psychiatric injuries, in Australia, involve elements of work related stress.[1] This raises the question of in what particular circumstances a worker’s compensation claim based on workplace stress will be accepted?
The simple answer to this is, you should never sign anything unless you have read the document and agree with its contents.
WorkCover is the main insurer for injured workers in Queensland. WorkCover has the majority of policies for employers in Queensland but there are a small number of self-insurers.
In recent years we have seen a significant increase in the number of Police Officers medically retired by the Queensland Police Service (QPS). The majority of those medical retirements have been initiated by the QPS in circumstances where the officer is suffering from symptoms which preclude them returning to first response policing.
Whereas previously officers who were not capable of returning to first response were accommodated within the QPS in alternate roles in recruitment, communications etc these opportunities no longer seem to be available.
Officers should be aware that if they are medically retired they have an entitlement to access Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) benefits pursuant to their QSuper policy.
Always lodge a workers’ compensation application – even if your injury is minor. If your employer tells you not to lodge an application, ignore their advice. Workers’ compensation is a RIGHT.
You have only six (6) months from the date of your injury to lodge an application. If you don’t apply within six months you can never receive compensation.
A case study of a recent decision by the Workers Compensation Regulator to accept a police officer’s sporting injury as a compensable injury under section 32 of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld).