A/General Manager, Regulatory Services
Rebecca has extensive experience as a public officer across a range of public sector agencies in policy, governance, compliance and regulation. Her previous roles include senior executive positions at the Department of Education, Department of Premier and the Cabinet and the Public Sector Commission.
WorkCover WA is the government agency responsible for regulating and administrating the workers’ compensation scheme in Western Australia under the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981.
The act ensures workers who suffer a work-related injury or illness are compensated for lost earnings, medical expenses, and other associated costs, and assists injured workers to achieve a safe and sustained return to work.
WorkCover WA’s role is to lead a contemporary, healthy and integrated workers’ compensation scheme that is fair, accessible and cost effective for all participants.
To ensure the scheme operates effectively for the people of Western Australia, WorkCover WA:
Over 120 people attended the CEO Breakfast or Local Government Risk Forum on Tuesday 6 September 2022, at Crown Perth.
Representatives from across the state — from Port Hedland to Esperance and everywhere in between joined together to network and explore current risk issues for the sector.
WorkCover WA is the government agency responsible for regulating and administrating the workers’ compensation scheme in Western Australia under the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981.
Businesses are prone to a host of disasters that vary from minor to catastrophic. The start of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 was sudden, unexpected and incredibly difficult for many.
The Western Australian workers’ compensation scheme is privately underwritten. This means that claims for workers’ compensation are managed by an insurer or self-insurer, not WorkCover WA.
Most local governments in Western Australia are covered under WALGA’s mutual indemnity scheme, LGIS WA. As self-insurers local governments are exempt from the requirement to have a conventional workers’ compensation policy. Instead, local governments work together with LGIS to manage claims. This could include actions such as approving, pending or disputing claims, paying weekly payments or medical bills, and creating a return-to-work program.
Insurers and self-insurers are regulated by the Insurer and Self-insurer Principles and Standards of Practice, which are available to download from the WorkCover WA website.
A key part of WorkCover WA’s role is providing education and assistance. A range of resources and helpful information is available on the WorkCover WA website.
WorkCover WA also presents industry events for scheme participants. There are still some places available at the highly anticipated WorkCover WA Conference, due to be held at Optus Stadium in November. The program will explore current themes and trends in injury management and workers’ compensation and features inspiring guest speakers such as the Hon Bill Johnston MLA, Major Matina Jewell (Australian Defence Force), Julian Pace (Happiness Co.) and AFL stars Josh Kennedy and David Mundy. All stakeholders are invited to attend!
To register for the Conference, or find out more about WorkCover WA, please visit the WorkCover WA website www.workcover.wa.gov.au
Each month we take your questions to one of our LGIS team members to answer.
If you want to submit a question for next issue, email us at [email protected]
Local governments are community makers, providing the places that create connection and a sense of belonging.
The City of Bunbury’s new youth precinct, Koolambidi Woola, has successfully married design and a strong risk management approach to deliver for the local community
The claimant, a cyclist, was riding his bike along a shared bike/footpath. He allegedly slipped on the path’s ‘slow down’ warning signage, injuring his ankle and knee. In his claim, the cyclist alleged that the signage was slippery and had a design flaw.
LGIS is the unifying name for the dedicated suite of risk financing and management services for WA local governments, established by the WA Local Government Association in conjunction with JLT Public Sector (part of the Marsh group of companies). LGIS is managed by JLT Public Sector (ABN 69 009 098 864 AFS Licence 226827).
Risk Matters, via this website, is designed to keep members, their staff and elected members informed on topical risk management and insurance issues and LGIS programs and services.
