Workers compensation injuries have personal and financial impacts for the injured employee as well as their employer. At times and depending on the circumstances, it can be difficult for businesses to create suitable duties and effectively manage this process. When such situations become increasingly frustrating for a business to manage, we occasionally get asked about the process of terminating injured employees.
This is a complex area and needs to be treated with a high degree of caution, sensitivity and consideration.
At ABILITY GROUP, we pride ourselves on helping clients achieve tangible results. Recently, our consultant identified a key initiative that delivered a remarkable $165,000 in savings for one of our valued clients.
In undertaking our review we commenced by investing time to meet with our new client and to obtain a detailed understanding of their business, workers compensation pain points as well as what outcomes they were ideally seeking.
We are increasingly finding situations where we need to engage the specialist assistance of our preferred investigators, Insight Intelligence, to minimise the business and financial impacts of workers compensation claims.
Inevitably due to circumstances in the workplace, launching an investigation to gather documented evidence from a claimant, witnesses or employer is required to assist in determining appropriate liability or actions required. Investigations can be either factual or surveillance in nature.
Often ABILITY GROUP's claim management process will anticipate such needs and proactively recommend investing in investigations to accelerate outcomes and assist with aspects like determining liability, return to work, functional capability and cost minimisation.
Managing Director, Mario Bekes, and the Insight Intelligence team have specialist experience in all facets of workers' compensation investigations and kindly provide the following information:
Factual Investigations
Regardless of whether the investigation is internal or external, the purpose of the investigation is not just collecting evidence and reach a conclusion, but to create a better workplace practice, to implement procedures or to review current policies and procedures.
The employer should record in the company logbook (most probably this may be an incident/hazard notification) at the workplace.
Documenting information is vital to reducing time and costs for both the employer and employee. Once engaged, our lead investigator requests the initial recordings of the incident or accident to begin the investigation. This will speed up the process and reduce the investigation costs. These documents are later used as annexures together with the Report.
Interviews are approached with sensitivity and professionalism, recognising that employees may feel stressed, to ensure a thorough and fair outcome.
Surveillance Investigation
Collecting evidence on a person of interest requires a clear objective agreed upon by the employer, agency, or insurer. A defined purpose allows the investigator to plan effectively, minimise time and cost, and secure documented evidence. Ability Group ensures every surveillance investigation begins with a clear objective.
So how can internal or external investigation be of benefit to an organisation?
Ensure that supervisors, managers, employees comply with company policies and procedures, legislation/acts
Reducing claims costs and resulting increases in workers compensation premiums
Demonstration to staff of determination of commitment to fair and objective investigation/treatment
Should you want to find out more about how ABILITY GROUP, in conjunction with Insight Intelligence, can assist in reducing your workers compensation costs, please contact us to find out more.
On 6 August 2026, significant changes were tabled for the South Australian Workers Compensation Scheme, focusing on amendments to the Return to Work (RTW) Bill 2014 and the SA Employment Tribunal Bill 2014.
Previously we advised that the NSW Government predicted the latest WorkCover legislation changes would reduce workers compensation premiums. For some businesses, these changes however have actually resulted in higher 2014/15 renewal premiums.
The late re-issuance of the NSW WorkCover Insurance Premium Order has delayed renewal premiums and invoicing, leaving some businesses facing unexpected workers' compensation increases. These costs can strain cash flow, but steps may be taken to reduce the impact."
