Individual employers who meet the criteria to manage the workers’ compensation of their own employees are known as ‘exempt’ or ‘self-insurers’.

Self-insurers have a range of administrative requirements to perform when processing claims made by workers. Your performance against these requirements is actively monitored by WorkCover WA.

This section outlines the role and requirements of self-insurers, and contains the full list of approved self-insurers and available resources.

Click here to view our regulatory policy for self-insurers.

Approval and review of self-insurers

Approval

The Governor, on the recommendation of the Minister for Commerce, may exempt employers or groups of employers from the requirement to have a conventional workers’ compensation policy.

Self-insurers must:

  1. Have sufficient material and financial resources in WA to fulfil obligations under the Act.
  2. Provide to the WorkCover Western Australia Authority security in the form of a financial undertaking of 150 percent of the central estimate of outstanding claims liability, or $2M, whichever is the greatest.

Compliance Monitoring

WorkCover WA conducts annual reviews of all exemptions, to ensure satisfactory performance and compliance with legislative requirements. An audit based monitoring framework includes periodic audits and self-audits.

Performance Monitoring

To evaluate the performance of approved self-insurers, WorkCover WA has developed the Insurer and Self-insurer Principles and Standards of Practice.

If you have any questions about self-insurance in Western Australia please call us on 1300 794 744 or contact us via email records@workcover.wa.gov.au.

Client Services

A self-insurer’s claims management practices should align with the requirements of the Act and provide a fair, equitable and effective service to injured workers.

Injury Management

To maintain continuing approval self-insurers must have an Injury Management Policy and Procedure document which demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to injury management and return to work.

Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP)

All self-insurers are required to have a documented, accessible IDRP which is designed to resolve disputes internally.

Cancellation of Approval

A self-insurer’s exempt employer status may be cancelled if they do not continue to meet legislative requirements. Employers or group of employers that cease to be exempt are required to obtain a conventional policy of insurance.

Enquiries

If you have any questions about self-insurance in Western Australia, please call us on 1300 794 744 or contact us via email records@workcover.wa.gov.au.

List of approved self-insurers

Insurer Name Address Phone No
ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED Cnr Pinjarra Road and Roe Avenue PINJARRA WA 6208 (08) 9557 4111
BHP GROUP LTD City Square, 125 St Georges Tce PERTH WA 6000 (08) 6208 6608
BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED 650 Abernethy Road FORRESTFIELD WA 6058 1800 800 789
BP AUSTRALIA GROUP PTY LTD Level 15, 240 St Georges Tce PERTH WA 6000 (08) 9420 1888
BRAMBLES LTD 41 Kewdale Road WELSHPOOL WA 6106 (08) 9453 5003
BRICKWORKS LTD 22 Harper Street CAVERSHAM WA 6055 (08) 9261 9999
COCKBURN CEMENT LTD Lot 242 Russell Rd EAST MUNSTER WA 6166 (08) 9411 1000
COLES GROUP LTD PO Box 110 BURWOOD VIC 3125 1300 352 258
CSR LTD 19-21 Sheffield Road WELSHPOOL WA 6106 1800 028 327
HEALIUS LTD Level 32, 250 St Georges Tce PERTH WA 6000 (08) 9317 0761
HOLCIM (AUSTRALIA) HOLDINGS PTY LTD Level 3, 200 Adelaide Terrace EAST PERTH 6000 (08) 9212 2055
INFRABUILD TRADING PTY LTD 1 Howson Way, SPEARWOOD WA 6163 (08) 9418 9843
INGHAMS ENTERPRISES PTY LTD 9 Baden St OSBORNE PARK WA 6017 (08) 9441 4200
ISS FACILITY SERVICES AUSTRALIA LIMITED 16 Foley BALCATTA WA 6021 (08) 9445 4452
METCASH TRADING LIMITED 218 Bannister Rd CANNING VALE WA 6155 (08) 9311 6000
MYER PTY LTD Level 3, 200 Murray Street PERTH WA 6000 (08) 9265 5888
SOUTH32 LTD Level 34, 108 St Georges Tce PERTH WA 6000 (08) 9324 9000
ST JOHN OF GOD HEALTH CARE INC Level 1, 556 Wellington Street PERTH WA 6000 (08) 6116 0000
WESFARMERS LTD PO Box M978 PERTH WA 6843 (08) 6350 9000
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION Level 3, 170 Railway Parade WEST LEEDERVILLE WA 6007 (08) 9483 8888
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION Level 2, 123 St Georges Tce PERTH WA 6000 0435 659 457
WOODSIDE ENERGY LTD Woodside Plaza, 240 St Georges Tce PERTH WA 6000 (08) 9348 4000
WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED (WOOLWORTHS GROUP) Parmelia House, Level 9, 191 St Georges Tce PERTH WA 6000 1800 469 931

Clinical Framework

WorkCover WA endorses the use of the Clinical Framework for the Delivery of Health Services by WA medical and allied health practitioners.

Self-insurers have a key role in monitoring and making decisions about injury management services. We encourage use of the Clinical Framework to inform collaboration between self-insurers and service providers in the treatment of injured workers.

See the Clinical Framework section to view the PDF and associated information.

Claims Managers Capability Framework

The Claims Managers Capability Framework sets out the practices, skills and behaviours expected of claims managers in the Western Australia workers’ compensation scheme.

The Capability Framework translates the Insurer and Self-insurer Principles and Standards of Practice into observable practices and behaviours which claims managers should demonstrate when delivering scheme services.

Claims Managers Capability Framework (PDF – 473kb)

Data specification

The data requirements set out in the Insurer/Self-Insurer Electronic Data Specification arise from WorkCover WA’s obligations to monitor and recommend changes to the Western Australian workers’ compensation scheme, to promote employment safety and injury management, and to collect data that complies with the National Data Set specification.

WorkCover WA recently collaborated with the Insurance Council of Australia and workers’ compensation regulators in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory to develop the new National Insurer Data Specification (NIDS), a common specification for workers’ compensation data supplied by insurers and self-insurers. NIDS is closely based on the existing Western Australian specification but also includes data items specific to the individual jurisdictions while allowing for a common data extraction and supply process for insurers and self-insurers.

The implementation of NIDS in Western Australia commenced in January 2014.

Insurer/Self-insurer Electronic Data Specification

The Q2 Data Specification is available on the Insurer page.

WorkCover WA Online

Digital First is a multi-year ‘umbrella’ initiative adopted to coordinate a range of technology and business related projects that will see WorkCover WA transform a greater proportion of its business to an online or digital environment.

The initial projects focused on the establishment of the WorkCover WA Online platform and the transition from Insurer Online. Under the Digital First Platform, further projects will extend functionality.

WorkCover WA Online facilitates several services. These include:

National Insurer Data Specification (NIDS) – file submissions

Upload file submissions to WorkCover WA and also search submission history. Issues raised from submitted data files can be addressed and summarised. Conversations with WorkCover WA Scheme Information staff can be initiated and responded to.

Claims

Self-insurers can search for notified claims; view recent liability notices – Section 57(a) 3(c) – and submit new liability notices.

Reference information

This application allows self-insurers to download the following reference documentation:

  • All Service Codes
  • Current Service Codes
  • Service Type Codes
  • Valid Type Code Combinations
  • Service Providers
  • Issues Documentation

If you have any queries relating to the WorkCover WA Online, please visit WorkCover WA Online FAQs or contact us.

Guidelines and Forms - Self Insurers

WorkCover WA requires additional data from self-insurers for monitoring scheme performance and setting recommended premium rates. This data is required to be submitted in accordance to the guidelines. Please note, with exception of WC20-Semi-Annual 2022/23 returns, all the Forms are now required to be submitted via WorkCover WA Online. Insurers have the option of emailing the WC20-Semi-Annual 2022/23 returns using the WC20-Semi-Annual Form.

General

Forms

Guidelines

Sample Data

 

Previous Year's Guidelines

WorkCover WA requires additional data from insurers and self-insurers for monitoring scheme performance and setting recommended premium rates. This data is required to be submitted in accordance to the guidelines. Please note that the WC12 Form is now required to be submitted via WorkCover WA Online.

General

Forms

Guidelines

Bulletins

View the range of WorkCover WA Bulletins that provide self-insurers with clarification on legislative matters and administrative requirements.

Go to Bulletins.

Insurance cover for acts of terrorism
Legislation
WA workers’ compensation acts of terrorism legislation (the legislation) is comprised of:

  • Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management (Acts of Terrorism) Act 2001 (the Terrorism Act), and;
  • Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management (Acts of Terrorism) (Final Day) Regulations 2002 (the Regulations).

The legislation was developed as an urgent response to the insurance industry’s sudden withdrawal of terrorism insurance products following the terrorist attacks in the United States of America on September 11, 2001.

If this arrangement had not been made, employers would have been without cover for claims arising  from terrorist events, and insurers would be in breach of section 160(3) of the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 (WCIM Act) which requires insurers to insure an employer for the full extent of their liability.

The Terrorism Act was enacted as an interim arrangement pending the development of a national insurance scheme covering terrorism related workers’ compensation claims.

The Commonwealth Government has since developed a national scheme however it excludes workers’ compensation liabilities, which remain the responsibility of the States and Territories.

As it was not intended to operate indefinitely the Terrorism Act contains a sunset clause which has been extended several times (via the Final Day regulations), most recently to 31 December 2026.

Scheme features
The Terrorism Act provides for a post-event insurance arrangement where workers’ compensation liabilities resulting from an act of terrorism are capped with claims costs pooled and then shared by insurers and self-insurers.  The key features of the scheme are as follows:

Approved insurers and self-insurers to be excluded from their liability under section 160 of the WCIM Act to insure employers for workers’ compensation against a terrorist event providing that they hold a valid contribution agreement with WorkCover WA.

A $25 million collective liability cap for insurers and self-insurers with a reduction factor to apply for liability exceeding this cap (statutory benefits only, common law is excluded).

A 90 day time limit for claims applicable from the date specified in a Ministerial declaration. If no Ministerial declaration is made, injured workers may still be compensated providing that WorkCover WA is satisfied an act of terrorism has occurred – no time limit applies in this situation.

Liabilities to initially be paid from the Employers’ Indemnity Supplementation Fund (Supplementation Fund) and recovered from insurers and self-insurers.

Once liability is determined, insurers are collectively liable for 95 per cent (apportioned individually by market share). Self-insurers are liable for the remaining 5 per cent (apportioned individually by level of declared wages).

Workers' Compensation and Working Directors
For more information on how working directors are covered under the Act, refer to the ‘Working Directors’ page.

Go to Working Directors.

Workplace Fatalities