Name of scheme

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

New South Wales

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 two years.

Yes

Changes to the existing injury are managed against the original claim for a period of two 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.

Victoria

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

Queensland

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

Western Australia

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

South Australia

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

Tasmania

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Northern Territory

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

Australian Capital Territory

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

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