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Kaya reader,
As 2024 draws to a close, I look back on a period of significant transition.
Over the last year, it has been pleasing to witness service providers across the scheme embrace the modernisation agenda, while also prioritising performance under the former framework.
Stakeholders demonstrated a high level of ongoing engagement with WorkCover WA, as the second half of the year focused on adjusting processes and practices to support the changes in the legislative and regulatory environment.
From the regulatory perspective, we continued to support capability uplift through educational campaigns, online learning and in person engagement. The new year will see more opportunities for stakeholders to engage with us through a series roundtable discussions and collaborative exercises.
One event you certainly won’t want to miss is the WorkCover WA 2025 Conference.
Save the date
16 September 2025
More information to come - stay up to date via our new Conference website.
From all of us at WorkCover WA, thank you for your commitment to the workers and employers of our State. I wish you a safe and restful break over the festive season and look forward to what 2025 has in store.
Chris White
CEO, WorkCover WA
IN FOCUS
WorkCover WA is proud to sponsor two scholarships for WA healthcare professionals to attend the new post-graduate course Compensable Health and Medicine, developed by Monash University in partnership with the Personal Injury Education Foundation.
The course is a unique opportunity for healthcare professionals treating and managing people with compensable injuries and illnesses to learn about contemporary clinical and administrative challenges, and improve the quality of care for compensable patients.
The ten-week course is suitable for GPs, physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists and other allied health professionals, and launches in March 2025.
To express your interest, please send a one-page letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the course to rebecca.harris@workcover.wa.gov.au by 5pm Friday 24 January 2025.
Learn more about the topics covered and the learning objectives via the link below.
MORE NEWS
New Explanatory Guide
WorkCover WA has published an explanatory guide for calculating the weekly rate of income compensation.
The guide provides practical information to workers, employers and claims officers involved in calculating a worker’s pre-injury earnings and the correct amount of income compensation to pay.
Find the guide and a range of other helpful resources on the WorkCover WA website now.
Conciliation Practice Note 4
Parties to a dispute are required to attend conciliation conferences in-person unless the Conciliator with conduct of the matter approves attendance via telephone, video link or other means in accordance with Rule 13(3) of the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Conciliation Rules 2024.
Conciliation Practice Note 4 sets out the practice that will be followed by the Conciliation Service in relation to conciliation conference attendance.
What happens when you employ without workers compensation insurance in place for over three years, don't cooperate with WorkCover WA inspectors and refuse to take out required insurance?
You get hit with the biggest fine in WorkCover WA compliance history.
A parks and recreation employer has been fined over $210,000 in penalties and avoided premiums after a lengthy investigation - and the case continues.
It's WorkCover WA's role to hold employers like these to account. Find all our prosecutions results on our website and get a snapshot of the results we've generated by taking a look at our Quarterly Compliance Update:
Ready, Set... Mo!
On Tuesday 19 November, we celebrated International Men’s Day and Movember with a charity Brekkie Fry-Up!
This year’s IMD theme, “Positive Male Role Models,” highlights the importance of open conversations about men’s mental health and creating supportive environments where men can thrive.
With plenty of spectacular mo’s on display (real and fake!), we were thrilled to raise an incredible $400 for the Movember foundation, supporting worthy causes including men's mental health and suicide prevention, and prostate and testicular cancer.
16 Days in WA March
As part of the 16 Days in WA campaign, the 34th March Against Domestic and Family Violence in Perth was held on Monday 25 November.
WorkCover WA's Diversity and Inclusion Committee marched in solidarity with victim-survivors of family and domestic violence, and families impacted by domestic homicide in our State.
The 16 Days in WA movement aims to drive a change in culture, behaviour and attitudes that lead to violence against women and children. Visit the campaign website for more information and learn how you can make a difference.
ARPA 2024 International Forum
The Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association (ARPA) 1st International Forum on Workplace Rehabilitation was held in Sydney over three days from 12 to 14 November 2024 to explore immersive topics like best practices in rehabilitation and return to work, mental health, diversity and inclusion, and wellbeing.
WorkCover WA General Manager Rebecca Harris and Manager Regulation Rob Parkes attended the forum and were pleased to share WorkCover WA's regulatory perspective on industry trends, contemporary research and best practices for supporting injured workers as part of the National Return to Work Roundtable.
A highlight was the ARPA National Awards Night, and we were thrilled to see Western Australia's own Jacob Campbell (WorkFocus Australia), Joanna Stanes (Custodian Work Assist) and Sarah Quaid (Custodian Work Assist) recognised on the National stage.
Our congratulations to all the winners, and a special thank you to outgoing ARPA president Derick Borean for his commitment and passion.
WorkCover WA will be closed over the festive period from 25 December to 1 January inclusive. The WorkCover WA Online portal will still be available for document lodgement however documents will not be processed until services resume on 2 January 2025.
Important dates
Christmas closedown
25 December 2024 to 1 January 2025
WorkCover WA Conference 2025
16 September 2024
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.
