Who is a worker for workers compensation purposes?

In NSW, a worker for workers compensation purposes is 'a person who has entered into or works under a contract of service or a training contract with an employer (whether by way of manual labour, clerical work or otherwise, and whether the contract is expressed or implied, and whether the contract is oral or in writing)'. However, as many employment relationships are not standard, some people are also classified as ‘deemed’ workers. To assist you to clarify whether a person is a worker for workers compensation purposes, the State Insurance Regulatory Authority has designed a self-assessment tool. This tool is available to all employers and is designed to identify the worker status of the person(s) through a series of simple questions.

What does it mean if a claim is “reasonably excused”?

Once notified of a claim, GIO has seven days to commence provisional liability payments. In some cases, however, GIO may have a “reasonable excuse” not to commence provisional liability payments within this time frame. The reasons GIO might give for not commencing payments include: Insufficient Medical Information Injured Person is unlikely to be a worker GIO is unable to contact the injured worker The injured worker refuses to release personal and/or health information relevant to determination The injury and/or illness is not work related The injury has been notified after two months The injury is not significant For additional information, please contact your GIO Case Officer on 13 10 10 . More information can also be found on the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) website .

Tools and Resources for NSW

Training Calendar

Download our Return to Work and Injury Management Schedule or refer to icare for additional training courses.

Risk Management Support

GIO has a Risk Management Team to assist our customers better manage their Work, Health and Safety and Injury Management systems and obligations.

If you have an WH&S or risk management question, email our Risk Services Team, riskservices@gio.com.au.

Return-to-Work & Suitable Duties

The benefits of early return to work are well recognised and we recommend that you are supportive of this process.

If you have suitable duties available, you as the employer can liaise with the injured worker and their doctor to discuss the appropriateness of these duties.

Complete the Return to Work (RTW) Plan to assist your injured worker to return to work as soon as possible. Find out more information about the Guidelines for Workplace Return to Work Programs.
Having a list of suitable duties available prior to an accident means that GIO Case Officers can work with you, your injured worker, their treating doctor and the rehabilitation provider (if involved) to prepare a Return To Work plan sooner.

To find out more about GIO’s Injury Management Program, click here.

Claims Reporting

We provide a range of monthly and online reporting tools designed to help you track your claims performance and assist you in identifying risk management strategies.

The table below sets out the reporting available to employers for claims managed by GIO.

To obtain access to these reporting tools, please contact your Relationship Manager.

Posters & other forms

Return to Work Program for Injured Workers

Recover at Work Plan

NSW Register of Injuries

GIO

icare

We provide a range of monthly and online reporting tools designed to help you track your claims performance and assist you in identifying risk management strategies, including:

Claims Financial Total (CFT) - Summarises basic claims and financial data by policy period
Customer Experience Report (CER) - Provides a national, high-level executive review and operational snapshot of performance to assist you in managing claims and trends

Real-time claim status

icare’s claims portal gives employers and injured workers greater control over the management of their workers compensation claims. It allows the user to lodge, manage and track the progress of each claim in one central location.

Any new claim lodged and managed on icare’s system will be available for viewing within the icare authenticated claims portal

Monthly consolidated Cost of Claims from icare
A consolidated Cost of Claims Report is provided by icare which details all your open and closed claims in one place.

If you are not receiving this report, you can email WIreporting@icare.nsw.gov.au.

GIO

icare

Employers and Brokers by request to their Relationship Manager

Employers and injured workers.
With employer approval, brokers can also access
icare’s authenticated portal

Employers/Brokers by request to icare

Monthly reporting on all existing claims

Following an employers commencement on icare’s system

Monthly following an employers commencement on icare’s system

View our Training Courses

Prevent workplace injuries and reduce associated costs.

GIO Workers Compensation customers have access to a range of training programs and webinars designed to assist businesses manage risks and prevent workplace injuries.

View All Courses

Frequently asked questions
for Workers Compensation

GIO is an agent appointed by icare to deliver workers compensation claims management services to employers and workers in NSW.

In NSW, a worker for workers compensation purposes is 'a person who has entered into or works under a contract of service or a training contract with an employer…'.

Once notified of a claim, GIO has seven days to commence provisional liability payments. In some cases, however, GIO may have a “reasonable excuse” not to commence provisional liability payments within this timeframe.

More Workers Compensation FAQs