Our commitment to the scheme

This section contains information on our role within the workers’ compensation and injury management scheme and our commitment to stakeholder engagement, customer feedback and disability access and inclusion.

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.

WorkCover WA achieves this through the effective regulation and administration of the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 (the Act), resolution of disputes, provision of quality policy advice to government and maintenance of excellent stakeholder relationships. The functions and powers of WorkCover WA are outlined in Section 100 and 101 of the Act respectively.

To ensure the State’s workers’ compensation and injury management scheme operates effectively for the people of Western Australia, WorkCover WA:

  • provides information and education on all aspects of the scheme
  • promotes the injury management and vocational rehabilitation of injured workers to help them successfully return to work
  • undertakes research and provides statistics in the areas of rehabilitation, injury prevention and noise induced hearing loss
  • monitors employers to ensure they are insured for workers’ compensation to their full liability  in accordance with the Act
  • regulates and monitors the performance of service providers (eg. insurers, self insurers, approved vocational rehabilitation providers and registered agents) to ensure they deliver an appropriate standard of service to workers and employers
  • ensures all workers employed in a prescribed noisy workplace have hearing tests
  • provides Conciliation and Arbitration Services to resolve disputed workers’ compensation matters
  • registers agreements where parties agree to settle a claim for compensation or determination of the level of a worker’s impairment prior to civil action.

Funding

WorkCover WA is funded through an annual levy on insurers approved to underwrite workers’ compensation insurance in Western Australia, and on approved self-insurers.

Legislation administered

WorkCover WA administers a number of related workers’ compensation and injury management legislation and rules.

For legislation administered by WorkCover WA, see the Legislation and rules page.

Our purpose is to lead a contemporary, healthy and integrated workers’ compensation scheme that is fair, accessible and cost effective for all participants, through:

  • providing advice and guidance on workers’ injury management and return to work practices
  • active, responsive and transparent management of the scheme
  • focused information, education and compliance activities
  • fair and speedy dispute resolution
  • a strong service focus.
WorkCover WA values:

Service

  • We are clear about what we will deliver
  • We consider our scheme participants and their needs
  • We commit, act and deliver

Excellence

  • We are proactive, positive and flexible, and act strategically
  • We recognise that change is constant and that it can bring opportunity
  • We build on opportunities

Respect

  • We embrace diversity & individual differences
  • We seek to understand and recognise people’s interests and rights
  • We are fair and prompt in our actions and dealings with others

Integrity

  • We are trustworthy and accountable
  • We act in a consistent and impartial manner
  • We are transparent in our decision making

Collaboration

  • We work as a team
  • We value the contribution of others
  • We embrace a culture of open communication
WorkCover WA continues to maintain a strong emphasis on actively working with external stakeholders through consultation, feedback and collaboration. This focus allows us to improve the workers’ compensation system in ways that are meaningful and relevant to our stakeholders. We value the positive relationships we have with our stakeholders as these provide us with important feedback on the success of our various activities and functions and affords us the opportunity to make improvements such as:

  • increasing the quality of policies and practices
  • improving successful implementation of initiatives
  • increasing the chances of voluntary compliance, and
  • increasing the scope for partnerships.
Our key stakeholders include:

  • workers injured through a work related accident or disease
  • employers who are required by law to take out workers’ compensation insurance
  • the Western Australian Government
  • insurers/self-insurers and insurance brokers
  • vocational training, human resource and OSH (occupational health and safety) officers
  • approved vocational rehabilitation providers (AVRPs)
  • medical and allied health providers
  • legal practitioners and registered agents
  • unions and employer associations
  • the community.
Our Compliance Framework helps protect the integrity of the workers’ compensation scheme in Western Australia by assisting key stakeholders, including employers and service providers, to comply with their legislative and associated workers’ compensation and injury management responsibilities.

  • Compliance Framework 2014 (PDF 256kb))
    The Compliance Framework details WorkCover WA’s risk based approach to compliance activities; the strategies used to detect instances of non compliance; and the three strategies used to encourage compliance, namely education, engagement and enforcement.
  • Compliance Plan 2015/16 (PDF 276kb)
    To assist stakeholders in preparing for planned compliance activities, WorkCover WA has published the Compliance Plan 2014/15. The plan outlines the areas of regulatory focus and activities to be undertaken by the Regulatory Services Division for the 2014/15 financial year. The plan outlines what stakeholders can expect and when, so they can plan for these activities and potential contact with WorkCover WA staff.
  • WorkCover WA Compliance Poster
    A poster promoting the three strategies employed by WorkCover WA to encourage compliance is also available. The poster includes compliance checklists specifically created for employers and service providers to increase awareness of their responsibilities and requirements.
Customers are encouraged to have their say on the services WorkCover WA provides by utilising the Customer First Feedback System.

Feedback from customers is the most immediate and effective way WorkCover WA can analyse public perception of its performance. The Customer First Feedback System forms part of WorkCover WA’s commitment to continuously improve services to customers and the community.

WorkCover WA’s Customer First Feedback System complies with the Australian Standard on Complaints Handling (AS 10002-2006) and the Public Sector Commission Circular 2009-27: Complaints Handling. It provides customers with an avenue to deliver positive or negative feedback about the Agency’s services, decisions, procedures, policies and facilities.

This feedback process increases WorkCover WA’s understanding of customer needs and expectations and identifies opportunities for organisational improvements. Customer feedback is reported regularly to the Agency’s Corporate Executive for discussion and trend identification.

Complaints against a scheme participant

Similarly, we would like to hear your concerns if you have a complaint against a scheme participant.

WorkCover WA is committed to facilitating the inclusion of people with disabilities by ensuring access to its facilities and services. WorkCover WA implemented its first Disability Service Plan (DSP) in 1995. Since then the agency has introduced a range of initiatives and made significant progress to improve access.