The main focus of the workers compensation is to enable injured workers to stay at work or return to work following a work related injury. Workplace rehabilitation plays an important role by involving timely intervention with appropriate and adequate service based needs to assist injured workers back into the workplace. We are pleased to say our specialist rehab business HEALTH ABILITY has a 100% return to work rate and can support businesses.
On the 4th of December 2015, icare (previously known as WorkCover NSW) announced further changes as a component of the NSW government ongoing NSW workers compensation reforms.
The latest reforms include benefit changes to injured employees in need of the highest benefits being those with a Whole Person Impairment (WPI) of >30%. In addition to this there were several other as well as additional changes.
Described as landmark changes for injured workers, several reforms commenced on the 16 October 2015. These reforms are to benefit injured workers with the highest needs, those with injuries in returning to work and most importantly apply these benefits equitably for all injured workers. Changes are also being made to weekly benefits, Independent Medical Examinations (IME’s) and retiring age. We explain these changes in more below. (more…)