Glossary of terms

Term Definition
A  

Accident Insurance Policy

An Accident Insurance Policy is a workers' compensation insurance policy for employers engaging workers. The policy covers the employer's liability for workers' compensation and damages arising out of an work-related injury sustained by their worker.

Asbestos related diseases

Asbestos related diseases are caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres over a period of time. Asbestos related diseases typically have long latency periods, that is ten to forty years from exposure to onset of the disease.

Average premium rate

The average premium rate is a rate per $100 of wages, expressed as a percentage, calculated by averaging net premium assessed for the year as a proportion of total wages declared by all employers for that year.
C  

Claims experience

An employer's claims experience is comprised of the statutory claims amounts paid under an employer's Accident Insurance Policy for the preceding three years and the damages claims amounts paid under the policy for the two years preceding that.

Common law claim

A common law claim is the claim made by an injured worker who commences common law action through the courts against their employer for negligence (they are 'suing' their employer). The courts award common law damages payments for economic loss, pain and suffering, legal costs, and medical and hospital costs. WorkCover may pay all damages awarded to the injured worker, including legal and investigative costs as part of its Accident Insurance Policy.
D  

Damages

Damages are payments made under a common law claim that are classified as 'heads of damage'. These are different types of damage that may be suffered by an injured worker. Examples are:

  • general damages (compensation for pain and suffering)
  • economic loss (compensation for loss of past earnings or future earning capacity).

Declaration of Wages form

Where wage information from employers is required to conduct a premium assessment, a Declaration of Wages form will be sent. Employers can return their wage information by completing the form, calling WorkCover Queensland, or entering their wages online. In all instances, wage information must be provided to WorkCover Queensland by 31 August.
E  

Estimated wages

When calculating premium, WorkCover requires details of the actual wages paid during the last financial year and the estimated wages you expect to pay in the next financial year.
G  

Goods and services tax

GST is payable on your premium but, like most Queensland employers, you are likely to be eligible to claim an input tax credit from the Australian Taxation Office. To enable WorkCover to meet its GST requirements, WorkCover requires you to provide, your ABN and your percentage entitlement to input tax credits (see input tax credit for further information about this). Payments of weekly compensation do not attract GST.
H  

Health provider

Health provider refers to any medical or allied health provider (for example a doctor, medical specialist, physiotherapist, chiropractor or occupational therapist) who is registered with the relevant professional board (e.g. Physiotherapist Board of Queensland).
I  

Industry classification

See WorkCover Industry Classification (WIC)
An industry classification system based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification. Businesses are assigned an appropriate industry category on the basis of their whole-of-business activity.

Industry rate

The WorkCover industry rate is the amount of premium per $100 of wages for a specific WorkCover Industry Classification (WIC) code.

Injury

An injury, as defined by the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 is,'A personal injury arising out of, or in the course of, employment if the employment is a significant contributing factor to the injury'
Some examples of injuries include:

  • a cut or fracture;
  • a disease (example asbestos or Q-fever);
  • industrial deafness,
  • psychiatric or psychological disorders such as stress or depression;
  • aggravation of a pre-existing condition;
  • death from an injury, disease or aggravation of a disease.
P  

Policyholder

Is an individual or entity that holds an insurance policy with WorkCover.

Premium notice

Is a notice that is sent to WorkCover policyholders detailing an amount payable on their policy following inception, renewal or re-assessment.

Premium rate

The rate per $100 of wages for an individual employer.
Q  

Q-COMP

Q-COMP is the Workers' Compensation Regulatory Authority.
R  

Rehabilitation

Under workers' compensation legislation, the purpose of rehabilitation is to ensure the worker's safest and earliest possible return-to-work or to maximise the worker's independent functioning. Rehabilitation for return-to-work (sometimes called occupational, vocational or workplace rehabilitation) can include treatment from a range of health providers, assessments of work capacity and suitable duties programs. Under legislation, workers and employers must take every reasonable step to participate in rehabilitation and return-to-work programs.
S  

Self-insurer

An employer who meets certain criteria to manage their own workers' compensation issues. Contact Q-COMP for more information.

Stamp duty

Stamp duty is payable to the Queensland Government on many property and business transactions, including workers' compensation insurance premiums. Stamp duty has been included in premiums since 1916. Before the introduction of the GST, WorkCover included stamp duty in the final premium amount shown on your Premium Notice. Due to the GST, WorkCover now clearly lists the stamp duty payable as a separate item on your Premium Notice.

Statutory (no-fault) claims

A statutory or no-fault claim is when a worker is compensated for a work-related injury with payments and benefits prescribed in the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003. These payments and benefits are referred to as statutory compensation and may include weekly payments as income replacement, lump sums to compensate for permanent impairment, and hospital and medical expenses. Statutory claims are administered on a 'no fault' basis. That is, it doesn't matter if it is the worker's or the employer's fault that the injury occurred-compensation is still paid.

Succession

Succession may be applied when a new employer acquires an existing business, and the new employer has previously been associated with that business. Generally, applying succession will mean the premium rate of the cancelled policy will be transferred to the new employer's policy as the initial premium rate.
W  

Wages

Wages are the total amount an employer pays to a worker as defined by Schedule 6 of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003.

Work-related injury

An injury where employment was a significant contributing factor.

WorkCover Industry Classification (WIC)

An industry classification system based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification. Businesses will be assigned an appropriate industry category on the basis of their whole-of-business activity.

Worker

A 'worker' for the purposes of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 is an individual employed under a Contract of Service (sect 11) or specifically included under Schedule 2 Part 1, unless specifically excluded under Schedule 2 Part 2.