COVID-19 and workers compensation in Tasmania

Step 1: Get treatment plus a workers compensation medical certificate

Seek medical treatment for your injury/illness and get a signed workers compensation medical certificate from your treating doctor.

Step 2: Tell your employer about your injury/illness

You must tell your employer about your injury/illness as soon as possible. You can do this in person, in writing or by email.

Step 3: Your right to make a workers compensation claim

Your employer must inform you of your right to make a workers compensation claim and give you a Notice of Right to Make a Workers Compensation Claim form (PDF, 168.6 KB) within 14 days of you telling them about your injury.

Your employer must tell their insurer within 3 working days about your injury.

Step 4: Get a workers compensation claim form

If you wish to make a claim, you will need to complete a workers compensation claim form. You can either:

• download a Workers Compensation Claim Form (PDF, 201.8 KB), or
• ask your employer for a workers compensation claim form, which looks like this (below). If you ask for this form, your employer must give you one and must not obstruct you.

You should usually do this within 6 months of the date of your injury. If you decide to leave your employment, you must do this before you leave.

For more information about time limits for making a claim (especially on illness and industrial deafness), see Workers Compensation Handbook: The Basics (PDF, 175.5 KB).

Step 5: Complete the claim form

Complete the claim form and give it to your employer with your workers compensation medical certificate signed by your treating doctor.

You can do this in person or by post.

What happens next

Your employer and the insurer’s role

Your employer must:

• tell their insurer within 3 working days that they have received your claim, and forward it within 5 working days of receiving it
• start making payments immediately.

The insurer will then tell you and the employer they have received the claim, within 28 days.

If a decision hasn’t been made within 28 days to accept your claim, you will be advised of the reasons why and what steps the employer/insurer is taking to enable them to make a decision.

A decision must be made within 84 days of lodging your claim.

The insurer will give you and your employer information about your rights, roles and responsibilities during the workers compensation process.

Your role

Continue to promptly supply workers compensation medical certificates and invoices to your employer while your injury is ongoing.

Your doctor must not provide a certificate of total incapacity for more than 28 days unless they note a reason on the certificate and nominate a date they intend to review your capacity.

Changing your doctor

If you change your primary treating doctor, you must:

• notify your employer of the name of your new doctor
• authorise your new doctor to obtain all relevant records from your previous doctor, using the Authority and consent for release of medical records form (PDF, 80.5 KB) (you can also get this form from your employer’s insurer).

Making a claim for a deceased family member

If a worker has died from a work-related injury or disease, their dependants may be entitled to compensation. A claim by a dependant must be:

• made within 6 months of the date of the deceased worker's death
• made using the Claim form for dependents of deceased workers (PDF, 282.1 KB)
• delivered to the employer (or a person designated by the employer).

Resources

WorkSafe Tasmania resources

Workers compensation claim form (PDF, 201.8 KB)

Workers Compensation Handbook: The Basics (PDF, 175.5 KB)

A Guide to Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation in Tasmania (PDF, 373.0 KB)

Notice of Right to Make a Workers Compensation Claim form (PDF, 168.6 KB)

Authority and consent for release of medical records form (PDF, 80.5 KB)

Claim form for dependents of deceased workers (PDF, 282.1 KB)

After a workplace death: A support guide for families, friends and work colleagues (PDF, 378.6 KB)

Other resources

Worker Assist Tasmania: Advice for injured workers (external link)