Kaya reader,

The workers compensation and injury management landscape is changing. Across Australia, conversations are increasingly focused on scheme sustainability, psychological health, service quality and return to work outcomes. Yet amid the reform, data and debate, one thing remains constant… people want a system they can trust.

Trust is built when workers understand their rights, when employers can navigate their obligations with confidence, and when service providers help people recover and return to work. It is strengthened by evidence, transparency and a willingness to listen.

Our focus this year is simple. Making the scheme easier to access, easier to understand and better equipped to support those who need it most. Whether through our work supporting vulnerable workers, reimagining the claims experience, or strengthening service delivery across the scheme, we remain committed to turning intent into impact.

As always, thank you for the role you play in helping Western Australians recover, return to work and thrive.

Coming up...

Updates

You must hold a valid policy of workers compensation insurance if engaging workers in WA – even if you’re based elsewhere. This protects your workers and your business from the costs of a workers compensation claim, which can cost into the millions.

Failing to do so can result in significant penalties, as demonstrated in the case of a Wanneroo restaurant prosecuted for failing to hold insurance for 45 workers across a three-year period. Based interstate but employing in WA, they received a fine of $133, 000 and were ordered to pay $21,106 in avoided premium costs.

WorkCover WA's annual Premium Rates Data collection gathers important information on premium rates, policies, claims costs and insurer expenses across the Western Australian workers compensation scheme. Accurate and timely submissions are essential to ensuring we have a reliable and consistent dataset across all licensed insurers and self-insurers.

The information collected provides valuable insights into premium trends across industries and helps support ongoing analysis of the WA workers compensation market. It helps us monitor premium rate movements, understand market trends, support actuarial analysis, and maintain an evidence-based view of scheme affordability and sustainability. It also contributes to scheme monitoring, reporting and decision-making activities.

Reminder

Insurers are encouraged to review the collection requirements and submit their data by the required deadline. Early submissions provide additional time to address any data quality queries and help the collection process run smoothly. Validation and quality assurance activities form an important part of the collection process.

Guidance materials, including the Premium rates data – Guidelines, are available on the WorkCover WA website. The guidelines provide detailed information on data requirements, specifications and submission processes, and insurers are encouraged to review them before preparing their submissions.

If you have any questions about the collection requirements, submission process or data specifications, please contact the Data Quality team at dataquality@workcover.wa.gov.au.

Currently, WorkCover WA relies heavily on email to communicate with licensed service providers. This approach presents a number of challenges, including security risks, limited auditability, difficulties in tracking communications, and inefficiencies in managing correspondence.

In the second half of 2026, we will undertake a project to adopt WorkCover WA Online as the primary communication channel with licensed service providers. The new communication portal will provide a centralised, secure and auditable platform for all communications, improving compliance, traceability and operational efficiency.

Further information about these changes will be shared as the project progresses.

Regional Engagement

Travelling to regional areas not only enables us to follow up in-person about open compliance matters, but also provides invaluable opportunities to connect face to face with local stakeholders.