WORKSAFE VICTORIA

Claims forms and processes
The WorkSafe Vic site contains information about injury reporting and the claims' process. Claim forms can be accessed from the home page.

Practical RTW / injury management info
The focus of WorkSafe Victoria's homepage is very much on safety and prevention, not injury management. The 'Injury and claims' tab takes you through to some useful information; we especially like the RTW resource for small businesses. However, the emphasis is on forms and processes.

Links to relevant legislation
The 'laws and regulations' tab allows you to click through to a link page of Acts and regulations. There's also information available about workers' and employers' rights and responsibilities.

Up-to-date information
The news section of the site is very up to date and the 'what's new?' section also had recent additions to it. 

Positive partnership messages
  While we like the direct, no-nonsense approach WorkSafe Vic has taken to providing useful information, there is no emphasis on the partnership approach, which we believe is central to successful RTW. WorkSafe Vic has opted for RTW-facts without RTW-flavour.

  Focus on workplace health
Unique amongst jurisdictions, the Victorian site contains prominent information about workplace health checks. We're not sold on the details of the checks themselves, but congrats to WorkSafe Vic for putting workplace health front and centre.

 Annual report
The WorkSafe Vic annual report is available here.

Appearance / Ease of navigation
The Victorian site is clear and easy to navigate.

WORKCOVER TASMANIA

Claims forms and processes
We're ready to be proven wrong--but we couldn't find a claim forms on the Tassie website. Even if they are there, we reckon this means the site needs a re-jig. Are we missing something?

Practical RTW / injury management info
ThePDF Guide to Workers' Compensation in Tasmania provides a good overview of legislation and obligations, and there is also simple, practical information about RTW and RTW plans.

Links to relevant legislation
There is a link to Tasmanian workers' comp legislation but it is hidden away in the self-insurer's section of the site, which certainly isn't the first place I'd look if I was, for example, a small business owner.

Up-to-date information
The news section of the WorkCover Tas website is not very newsy and the site does not have an up-to-the-minute feel. (Although making "news" is some excellent research.) On the plus side, nothing stood out as especially out of date--and in the past we have seen prompt updates to reflect legislative change. 

Positive partnership messages
There are no traces of the "Go team!" attitude to injury management on Tasmania's WorkCover website. And due to the very basic appearance of the site, we couldn't even pick up a 'power of partnerships' visual vibe. 

  Focus on workplace health
Workplace health isn't mentioned on Tassie's website at all.

Annual report
A link on the homepage takes you to the annual report.

Appearance / Ease of navigation
In purely superficial terms, Tasmania is the plain Jane of Aussie workers' comp websites. Apart from the WorkCover logo there are NO IMAGES (gasp! horror!) and you move through the site by clicking on the sub-headings in poorly formatted lists. In fact, the website is the complete opposite of my beautiful island home: easy to get around but not much to look at.

WORKSAFE NORTHERN TERRITORY

Claims forms and processes
There is a comprehensive resource of downloadable workers' comp forms on the NT website.

Practical RTW / injury management info
We were excited about following the "How can I assist my worker to return to work and be productive?" link in the employer FAQ section of the site, but unfortunately the "answer" is a scant two sentences: hardly a practical guide! However, there is a PDF that makes the case for employers to invest in rehab. We also liked this introduction to the NT workers' comp system for doctors and this workers' guide.

Links to relevant legislation
All present and accounted for, here.

Up-to-date information
The NT site appears to be updated regularly.

Positive partnership messages
The NT website does note that rehabilitation is most successful when everyone works together and employers stay in touch with injured workers. However, simply mentioning this fact is unlikely to be effective: we want practical suggestions and a morsel of partnerships mojo, please!

  Focus on workplace health
As with most other jurisdictions, there's no mention of workplace health on the NT website. 

Annual report
In addition to an annual actuarial report, the reports page has links to yearly RTW Monitor reports and various departmental / council reports. Very comprehensive!

Appearance / Ease of navigation
The NT site is not much prettier than the very basic Tasmanian site, although it does at least have separate tabs for prevention, compensation and rehabilitation. It is easy to get around, but the information you're looking for isn't always where you'd expect it to be.

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