Overview of workers compensation in Tasmania
- Around 7,500 workers get injured in Tasmania each year. These injuries cost about $200 million in direct workers compensation payments each year.
- Mental health injuries are increasing. 1 in 10 injuries are now mental health injuries and the number of PTSD claims has more than doubled over the past 10 years.
- Mental health injuries are more complex to manage, result in longer time off work and ultimately cost more.
- 45% of injured workers reported one or more comorbidity (that is, having two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient at the same time).
- 10% of workers have been assessed as having probable serious mental illness – including those who were only being treated for a physical injury.
Stigma about workers compensation still exists:
- 40% of injured workers think they will be treated differently at work
- 25% said their boss thought they were exaggerating or faking
- those with mental health injuries were more likely to experience perceptions of negativity and stigma.
Support from the injured worker’s employer greatly improves recovery and return to work.
Find out more about :
- The primary treating medical practitioner (PTMP) and PTSD
- Injury management and PTSD
- Injury management plans, return to work plans and PTSD
- Taking a collaborative approach to PTSD
Resources
A guide to workers rehabilitation and compensation In Tasmania
Managing workplace injuries in Tasmania: A handbook for primary treating medical practitioners
Injury management: Making it work
Guideline for preparing return to work plans and injury management plans
The WorkCover Tasmania Board also recommends that employers, insurers/self-insurers and Tasmania State Service Agencies consider the Safe Work Australia guide Taking action: A best practice framework for the management of psychological claims in the Australia workers compensation sector when developing and implementing systems for managing psychological claims.