Table 6.4: Injured worker placement incentives | Safe Work Australia

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	Scheme name	Includes wage/ salary subsidy?	Premium exemption	Second injury costs from aggravation or recurrence of existing injury	Funding for equipment used for workplace modifications	Training costs	Work trials	Further information
NSW	JobCover Placement Program	Yes Up to $27,400 over a 52 week period paid as an incentive payment to the employer.	Yes Injured workers wages not included in wages for premium calculation purposes for 2 years.	Yes Changes to the existing injury are managed against the original claim for a period of 2 years.	Yes No limit to amount — justify against the principles for funding of equipment and workplace modification.	Yes No limit to amount — justify against the principles of retraining.	Yes Work trial - Work experience with a host employer for up to 12 weeks. Connect2work also provides an incentive payment to a host employer who offers work experience for 15 hours per week or more.	JobCover placement program
	Recover at Work Assist for Small Business	The program provides the employer with an assistance payment of up to $400 per week for a combined total of up to 6 weeks after date of injury. It is for very small employers — only 19 FTE or less and basic tariff premium of $30,000 or less.	N/A	No	Yes No upper limit to amount — funding approved against the principles for funding of equipment and workplace modification.	No	No	Recover at work assist for small business – guidance material
	Workplace modifications	No	No	No	Yes No limits to amount justify against the principles for funding or equipment and workplace modification.	No	Can be linked to a work trial	Equipment and workplace modification
	New employment assistance benefit	No	No	No	Yes	Yes		New employment assistance benefit. Cost up to $1,000 to support return to work with a new employer.
Vic	Workplace Incentive Scheme for Employers (WISE)	WISE is a 6 month financial incentive of up to $26,000 payable to employers who offer ongoing employment of 15 hours + to workers with an accepted claim who cannot return to work with their pre-injury employer	Employers are offered WorkSafe Victoria Injury Insurance protection if the worker ceases work because of a new injury. Additionally, the cost of that claim is excluded from the employer’s injury insurance premium calculation, though the employer is still liable to pay an excess of the first 10 days’ of weekly payments and indexed medical expenses.	If a worker on a WISE placement has a further injury during their placement, the WISE employer’s Agent will determine whether this is a new injury or part of the original claim. Where the decision is that the injury is a continuation of the original injury, then any weekly payments, medical and like expenses will be paid against the original employer’s policy.	Not part of WISE but may be provided to the worker as an occupational rehabilitation service based on the claim circumstances.	Not part of WISE but may be provided to the worker as an occupational rehabilitation service based on the claim circumstances.	No	WorkSafe Incentive Scheme for Employers WISE Information for employers
Qld	Recover at Work program, run by WorkCover Queensland.	WorkCover continues to pay the workers’ compensation entitlements while they participate in the program.	Nil	Any injuries sustained during the host program are covered by WorkCover Queensland and do not affect the host employer’s premium. At the end of the program, any aggravation to existing injury is covered by WorkCover Queensland for 6 months following the commencement of employment.	Is considered on a case by case basis. Reasonable costs will be paid by WorkCover.	WorkCover will pay for training/additional skills required to secure employment with the host employer.	The work trial will run for 6 to 8 weeks	Recover at Work
WA	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
SA	RISE (Re-employment Incentive Scheme for Employers)	Reimbursement of 40% of gross wages for up to 52 weeks of employment	No	N/A	Cost associated with minor site modifications, equipment	Considered as part of return to work service based on the claim circumstances	No	RISE information and approval form available from ReturnToWorkSA website
Tas	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
NT	Alternative Employer Incentive Scheme — s75A , Return to Work Act 1986	Yes	N/A	12 months	Yes reasonable and necessary costs — s76	Yes reasonable and necessary costs — s76	Alternative Employer Incentive Scheme provides for 12 week work trial	Alternative Employer Incentive Scheme
ACT	Second Injury arrangements Scheme ( s108 Workers Compensation Act 1951 ). The scheme provides for private arrangements between insurers and employers.	The legislation provides for a wage subsidy and indemnity from injuries. Commercial arrangements can be made between insurers and employers.	Yes	Yes Private arrangement between insurers and employers.	Not expressly provided for but can be negotiated between insurers and employers.	Not expressly provided for but can be negotiated between insurers and employers.	Not expressly provided for but can be negotiated between insurers and employers.	No guidance material has been published.
C’wealth Comcare	Work trial placement	During the work trial the employee is paid for the hours they work by the Rehabilitation Authority. If the employee is working less than their pre-injury hours, incapacity payments are paid by the relevant authority under the SRC Act.	N/A	During the course of the work trial if there is a new injury/illness or aggravation of pre-existing injury/illness, the employee should submit a new claim through their rehabilitation authority.	Additional or specialised equipment may be included in a rehabilitation program.	Retraining costs may form part of a rehabilitation program.	Yes	Work trials: a guide for rehabilitation case managers (Pub 83)
C’wealth Seacare	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
C’wealth DVA	Employer Incentive Scheme	Offered as an incentive to employers of current DVA rehabilitation clients	N/A	New injuries – submit claim via employer Aggravation of existing injury outside workplace – submit to DVA	Costs associated with minor site modifications, equipment, if not provided by employer	Yes	No	Rehabilitation Policy Library 9.10
C’wealth DVA	DVA Rehabilitation	Incapacity payments maintained during participation	N/A	DVA	Additional or specialised equipment may be included in rehabilitation program	Retraining costs may be included in rehabilitation program	Yes Work experience with host employer for up to 12 weeks.	Rehabilitation Policy Library
New Zealand	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A