Administrative and scheme delivery changes
Return to Work Innovations (RTWI)
WorkSafe Victoria’s RTWI Program was established in 2024 following a Victorian Government commitment of $50 million to partner with others to pilot and trial new initiatives to improve return to work outcomes.
Year 1 focus was on identification of partnership opportunities that address the increase of mental injuries and the challenges associated with return-to-work. Several initiatives are now underway to support workers and employers to proactively manage psychological risks.
- Worker Mental Health Support Helpline: In April 2025, WorkSafe Victoria selected TELUS Health to deliver a mental health support line, providing counselling services to workers from small and medium-sized businesses.
- Mentally Healthy Workplaces: Launched in September 2025, this free, tailored consulting service assists small and medium-sized businesses to identify and manage psychosocial risks in their workplaces.
- Early intervention grant: Launched in March 2025, this $5 million grant targets early interventions for mental injuries to help improve return to work outcomes. Grant recipients will be announced in early 2026.
Year 2 sees the expansion of RTWI focus to consider opportunities to support initiatives that focus on RTW outcomes for physical injuries. Grant Round 2 will fund new initiatives that support people in Victoria with work-related physical injury to keep connected with work during recovery, and return to modified, meaningful work when it’s safe to do so. Applications closed November 2025 and are currently being evaluated. More information can be found here Return to Work Innovations.
Independent medical examiners (IMEs) and independent impairment assessors (IIAs)
There has been a significant strengthening of WorkSafe’s panel of IMEs and IIAs, with the recruitment of 154 new IMEs and 68 new IIAs. IME and IIA panels play a critical role in helping WorkSafe agents determine a person’s entitlement to compensation. The increased number of practitioners has helped manage a growing demand for these services following legislative reforms. It has also resulted in better regional access to services for injured workers and greater availability of specialities in highest demand, including psychiatry and orthopaedics.
Tailored provider reference groups
Tailored provider reference groups were established to ensure healthcare providers have access to the information and resources they need to understand and apply legislative changes.
Six independent medical examiners specialising in psychiatry joined the Mental Injury Eligibility Reference Group and met to help develop resources to assist with the application of changes to mental injury eligibility. This included the development of guidance on determining if employment is the predominant cause, guidance on determining significant behavioural, cognitive or psychological dysfunction and a new mental injury eligibility referral letter.
A General Practitioners (GPs) Reference Group was established to guide continued engagement with GPs following a targeted, multifaceted GP communications campaign to drive awareness and understanding of new legislation. The GP Reference Group included representatives from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. The Group disbanded in November 2025 and the insights and perspectives captured will continue to help guide work with GPs and ultimately help improve outcomes for injured workers.
Commenced piloting a new approach to sourcing feedback from employers on the quality of service they receive from WorkSafe’s agents
The pilot of the new online survey began in April 2025. In response to independent research on employer preferences, the new survey provides employers with more flexibility and control, enabling them to respond at their most convenient time. The survey seeks employer feedback across four common areas of experience as they support employees with their return to work journey. Results and key themes will be collated as the pilot continues into the 2025-26 year.
Services to support workers and employers with RTW
WorkSafe Victoria is focused on improving the support available to injured workers. In addition to standardly available occupational rehabilitation services, a number of new services have been launched:
- HelpConnect occupational rehabilitation service - helps workers to source individual supports as they prepare to transition off the scheme. Further info can be accessed here.
- Recovery Support Service’(established during COVID and redesigned in 2025) - provides early, tailored assistance for workers experiencing challenges that may affect their recovery or return‑to‑work progress. Workers receive help from occupational rehabilitation specialists to identify barriers, coordinate communication with treating practitioners, and access community or online supports.
Public Sector project
The Victorian public sector represents around 10% of the state’s workforce and includes a range of frontline roles in public safety, education and healthcare. The public sector faces unique challenges in the prevention and management of mental injury claims. In 2025, the Public Sector Partnerships and Performance program commenced, which is an opportunity to work closely with Victorian public sector employers and their agents, to make significant improvements in the outcomes for these injured workers. The aim of the program is, through the establishment of a relationship management framework, to develop an in-depth understanding of the unique drivers of return to work outcomes, and provide tailored support that meets the needs of the public sector.
Premium and Return to Work
WorkSafe Victoria’s Health and Safety Month is an opportunity for WorkSafe to connect with, inform and educate thousands of employers and workers to help reduce workplace harm and improve outcomes for injured workers. As part of the 2025 program, WorkSafe hosted several events across Victoria to educate employers on the positive outcomes of actively managing their WorkCover claims and fostering a supportive return to work environment, which can lead to a reduced premium rate and improved safety and productivity in the workplace. These sessions were very well attended, and have created interest in sharing this important message across Victorian workplaces more broadly.
Policy developments
Personal and Household Services (PHS) policy review
WorkSafe’s household help policies and procedures were updated during December 2025 to provide clearer guidelines for providers. This will help ensure injured workers are accessing the most effective services to support their recovery goals. The changes will help ensure household help services are provided to workers who need it in a timely manner and are subsequently reduced in a way which promotes early independence and recovery.
Legislative amendments
A range of amendments were made to the WIRC Act in 2025, via the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill 2025 (WIRC Amendment Bill). These include the insertion of additional objectives for the Act including that all users of the scheme are treated fairly, respectfully and with dignity, while the scheme is to provide a high-quality service to all claimants and users of the scheme. Further, the Minister can approve a Code of Claimants’ Rights which will set out service standards to guide the experience of claimants utilising the scheme.
Additionally, increased pension and other compensation benefits have been made available to close family members and/or dependents following a work-related death, for example an increased cap on family counselling and forensic cleaning services in certain circumstances. The amendments also refined the operation of the legislated alternative dispute resolution mechanisms of conciliation and arbitration and imposed an obligation on employers to ensure return to work co-ordinators hold relevant qualifications via approved training, with a failure to do so an offence.
The WIRC Amendment Bill also made a reduced suite of changes to the Accident Compensation Act 1985. This Act remains in operation as the legislative framework for injuries that occurred on or before 30 June 2014.