Last updated 28 March 2018

The law relating to work accidents is quite complex and different laws apply depending on the date of injury. It is, therefore, advisable to seek the assistance of a lawyer who is a Queensland Law Society accredited specialist in personal injuries.

WorkCover Queensland (WorkCover) is the government authority that administers the workers compensation system in this state. Some larger employers have special licences to handle their own compensation claims. These employers are known as self-insurers.

If an employer fails to insure against injury, an injured worker can still receive compensation, but WorkCover may later recover benefits paid to the worker directly from the employer and also impose penalties.

An employee injured during the course of their employment may be entitled to pursue the following avenues which are governed by the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld). An injured employee may:

  • apply for statutory compensation from WorkCover and/or the National Insurance Scheme
  • commence a common law claim for damages against their employer indemnified by WorkCover.