The Victorian Government has recently completed the second reading of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation (WIRC) Amendment Bill 2025. These amendments received royal assent on 5 August 2025, with specific changes related to return-to-work coordinator obligations will come into effect on a date to be proclaimed.
Key Amendment Objectives
The WIRC Amendment Bill 2025 aims to address several critical areas in workplace injury and rehabilitation, including:
- Improving the experience for injured workers and claimants
- Offering better support to family members after a work-related death
- Establishing clear compliance requirements for trained return-to-work coordinators in businesses with more than 50 employees
- Enhancing the operation of the Workplace Injury Commission
- Streamlining administrative arrangements for WorkSafe Victoria
- Improving the appointment process for hearing loss assessors
How This Affects Your Business
The amendments to the WIRC Act will impact the claims operations processes, which EML administers on your behalf. However, the specific new requirements are crucial for your compliance. Businesses failing to appoint a trained return-to-work coordinator could face significant penalties:
- Maximum penalties for individuals: 120 penalty units ($23,710.80)
- Maximum penalties for corporations: 600 penalty units ($118,554.00)
Key Obligations
To help you understand the full implications, here are the new obligations businesses must comply with:
Clause 37 introduces new sections 106A to 106E into the WIRC Act. These sections impose the following obligations on employers:
- Section 106A(1): Employers must ensure that their appointed return-to-work coordinator completes approved training or holds an approved qualification. Failure to comply can result in significant fines.
- Section 106D: Employers must allow their return-to-work coordinator time off to complete approved training, ensure they are paid during this time, and cover training-related expenses.
- Section 106E: Employers must provide the necessary resources and assistance for the return-to-work coordinator to perform their duties. Failure to do so could result in penalties.
We strongly recommend taking the necessary steps to appoint a qualified return-to-work coordinator at the earliest to ensure your business remains compliant with the new laws.
More Than 50 Workers, We Are Here to Help
ABILITY GROUP is ready to assist you with your claims. We are fully equipped to support you in meeting your Workcover requirements. As trained return-to-work coordinators, we can aid in managing your return-to-work processes, ensuring compliance with new legislation and minimising the risk of penalties for non-compliance.
One of the key objectives of the WIRC Amendment Bill is the establishment of clear compliance requirements for businesses employing more than 50 workers. Specifically, businesses of this size are now required to appoint a trained return-to-work coordinator who has completed an approved training program or holds an approved qualification.
We encourage you to get in touch with us if you have 50 or more employees, so we can guide you through the process.
To discuss, please contact us.
Source: Victorian Government Legislation
Title: Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill 2025
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