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Kaya reader,
Happy New Year from all of us at WorkCover WA!
As we begin 2026, our focus is on delivering initiatives which strengthen the workers compensation and injury management scheme for every stakeholder. Guided by our Strategic Plan 2025–2028, we remain committed to amplifying impact through smarter regulation, enhanced education, and improved digital services. This year, expect greater transparency, streamlined processes, and expanded regional engagement to ensure equitable access across Western Australia.
In 2026 we will focus on new initiatives designed to simplify compliance, improve return to work outcomes, and foster collaboration across the scheme. Together, we will continue to build a system that is fair, responsive, and future-ready.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s go.
Upcoming events
10 Feb 2026 | PIEF National Standards Launch Event
We are calling all WA claims managers to join us for the official launch of the Personal Injury Education Foundation (PIEF) National Standards – a practical, evidence-based framework to define excellence in claims service delivery.
At this free event, you'll hear from PIEF CEO David Fryar and General Manager Louise Stewart, and WorkCover WA CEO Chris White and General Manager Rebecca Harris about how the National Standards will shape the future of the scheme.
Places are limited so please ensure you register your attendance. Learn more and register via the links below:
3 March 2026 | Insights and Impact with Professor Alex Collie
Join workers compensation expert Professor Alex Collie for a free session for service providers who support injured workers through their workers compensation journey and return to work. The session will discuss:
- current issues and emerging trends facing workers compensation schemes across Australia
- evidence-based strategies, processes and practices to improve outcomes for injured workers.
- WA insights and learnings presented by WorkCover WA CEO Chris White and General Manager Rebecca Harris.
Places are limited. Learn more and register or join the waitlist for one of the sessions below:
What's new?
Bulletin – Tax on Settlement Amounts
WorkCover WA has issued a Bulletin following the release of a Class Ruling by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) concerning the tax status of workers compensation settlement agreements in the Western Australian workers compensation scheme.
All WorkCover WA Bulletins are available on the Legislative Framework page of our website.
New employer resources from ARPA
The Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association (ARPA) has unveiled Good to Go, a new National toolkit of resources for employers to make return to work simpler, safer and more certain.
Find practical tools like a ‘Return to work readiness quiz’ and email generators, Guides and cheatsheets on the Good to Go website now.
More stories
Congratulations to our scholarship recipients
We’re pleased to announce the recipients for our scholarship to complete the Compensable Health and Medicine course, developed by Monash University in partnership with PIEF:
- Dr. Vincenzo Figliomeni
- Dr. Laura Lim
- Dr Shanti Moorthy
- Mr. Rahul Verma
- Ms. Ashton Yovich.
Thank you to all applicants for your dedication and passion.
We look forward to promoting more opportunities for healthcare providers operating in the scheme to further their learning and better support injured workers.
Employer compliance reminder: Cover your casual workers
We recently recorded one of the largest fines in WorkCover WA history, for an aged care business employing 122 workers – many of whom were casual employees who only worked a few hours each.
The business was fined $250,000 for their failure to hold workers compensation insurance from April 2024 to March 2025.
This serves as a timely reminder that workers compensation insurance is compulsory when employing any workers – including casual workers. Whether an individual is employed short term or long term, part-time or full-time, the risk of injury is real, and all legal obligations must be met.
Three things you can do to kick off an impactful year
1. Connect – bookmark our website, sign up for News Alerts and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn so you don’t miss a single update from us.
2. Learn – If you’re a Claims Manager, Workplace Rehabilitation Provider or Insurance Broker, complete an Online Learning course to refresh your knowledge of the scheme.
3. Restock – From our First Steps brochures and comprehensive guides for workers and employers, to specialised publications for service providers it’s the perfect time to take stock of what you need and submit a publication order.
Important dates
PIEF National Standards Launch
Morning | Afternoon
10 February 2026
Insights and Impact session with Professor Alex Collie
Morning | Afternoon
3 March 2026
ARPA National Conference 2026
31 August - 2 September 2026
WorkCover WA acknowledges the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community.
We pay our respects to all Aboriginal communities and their cultures, to elders past and present.
