If you have to take time off work, and/or if you need medical treatment due to an injury or illness that was caused by your employment, you can lodge a workers compensation claim.

More information: What to do if you have been injured at work?

UNDERSTANDING ‘INSURERS’

In South Australia, employers are either self-insured or insured with Return to Work SA (RTWSA).

If your employer is self-insured, you should lodge a claim directly with them. Contact your Union or your workplace’s Return to Work Coordinator to find out how to do this.

If your employer is insured through RTWSA, claims are managed by one of two claims agents – Employers Mutual Ltd (EML) or Gallagher Bassett.

To find out which claims agent your employer is under you can use the claims agent lookup function on the ReturntoWorkSA website (here).

LODGING A CLAIM

You can complete a claim form and lodge it according to the instructions on the form. You should have all relevant details regarding your employment and injury ready to make the claim process easier for yourself and/or your union representative.

AFTER YOU’VE MADE THE CLAIM

After you have made the claim, the insurance agent will contact your employer to confirm details of the injury. They may ask you to attend a medical examination or ask for permission to contact your doctor before they make a determination (a decision to accept or reject your claim). A factual investigation may also be undertaken.

The insurer may offer to pay you income maintenance payments while you wait for them to make a decision about your claim, these are called interim benefits.  If you accept interim benefits and then your claim is not accepted you will need to pay these back to the insurer.

More information: What compensation am I entitled to?

IF YOUR CLAIM IS REJECTED

If your claim is rejected, or if you disagree with someone other aspect of the decision, contact your Union or the SA Unions Workers Compensation Service to discuss lodging a dispute.

More information: Lodging a dispute