Legislation covers most deaths, illnesses, injuries and diseases caused by work, and these are under the authority of WorkSafe. Some common law negligence claims still go to court. Under workers compensation schemes, employers pay fees and injured employees receive compensation benefits and medical expenses. Commonwealth employees have a similar system.

Unless otherwise indicated, this chapter refers to work injuries sustained on or after 1 July 2014. All legislative references are to the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 (Vic) ('WIRC Act') unless otherwise indicated.

Contributor

Brian Wright

Reserve Magistrate

Introduction to work injuries and key legislation

Last updated

1 July 2022

Work injuries in Victoria may be compensated in two different ways.

  1. The first is by way of the Acts of parliament regulating the system of workers compensation. This is dealt with in the first section of this chapter.
  2. The second is if the negligence of an employer or of a fellow worker is involved, in which case a common law claim may be able to be made. This is dealt with in the second section of this chapter.

The Accident Compensation Act 1985 (Vic) (‘1985 Act’) applies to the entitlement for work injures which occurred between 1 September 1985 and 30 June 2014.

On 1 July 2014, the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 (Vic) (‘WIRC Act’) commenced. This Act applies to the entitlement for work injuries that occur on or after 1 July 2014.

The 1985 Act and the WIRC Act are very similar as to entitlements and benefits, although the numbering of provisions is different.

Unless otherwise indicated, this chapter refers to work injuries sustained on or after 1 July 2014. All legislative references are to the WIRC Act unless otherwise indicated.

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