The New South Wales Government has rolled out new measures aimed at improving return to work outcomes for workers and employers following reforms to the State’s Workers Compensation Scheme.

 

“From today injured workers will be offered more opportunities to get back on the job sooner with WorkCover helping employers identify suitable work,” State Finance and Services Minister Greg Pearce said.

 

“Employers will have obligations to assist injured workers get back into the workplace and will be required to ensure a suitable return to work program is in place.”

 

Under the reforms to the scheme, WorkCover inspectors will be able to issue improvement notices to any employer that fails to meet certain obligations.

 

Mr Pearce said as part of the reforms, workers who make a claim from today will receive up to 95 per cent of their average weekly earnings for the first 13 weeks of their claim based on their pre-injury earnings.

 

“As well, from today a WorkCover Independent Review Officer will be available to provide an independent review of decisions made about benefits and work capacity,” Mr Pearce said.

 

More information about changes to the workers compensation scheme can be found here