Administrative and scheme delivery changes
- The Workers Compensation and Injury Management: A Guide for Treating Medical Practitioners was published in January 2025 to assist medical practitioners in performing their role in assisting injured workers following a work injury and guiding their recovery.
- The second edition of WorkCover WA’s Industry Classification Order was published in April 2025 to reflect changes in the premium rating classification (PRC) for private householders employing staff and a new PRC for employers receiving social assistance services (e.g. NDIS participants who directly engage NDIS support workers), and other minor changes.
- The second edition of WorkCover WA’s Remuneration Guidelines was published in May 2025 with effect from after 4pm 30 June 2025 to align with insurance policy renewals. The Guidelines include minor changes have been made to clarify the status of existing payments including provision of a company car for private use, motor vehicle allowances, termination payments and fringe benefits.
- WorkCover WA’s Workers Compensation Insurance for Contractors: Explanatory Guide & Assessment Tool was published in August 2025 to provide practical guidance for employers, contractors, insurance brokers and insurers when considering workers compensation insurance coverage of contractors.
Policy developments
WCIMA23 Post-Implementation Review
Following the commencement of the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023 (WCIMA23) on 1 July 2024, in early 2025 WorkCover WA undertook a targeted post-implementation review with a focus on key forms and processes to assess whether they were operating as intended. Informed by stakeholder consultation, the review led to a number of enhancements relating to various approved forms and processes including settlements, permanent impairment assessment notices and noise induced hearing loss. The changes took effect from 1 July 2025.
Tax on Settlement Amounts
In December 2025 WorkCover WA issued a Bulletin regarding the release of a Class Ruling by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) relating to the tax treatment of workers compensation settlement agreements within the Western Australian workers compensation scheme.
Technical Review of WorkCover WA Impairment Guidelines
WorkCover WA conducted a technical review of the WorkCover WA Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. The technical review considers changes to Safe Work Australia’s template impairment guides made in 2024 and a small number of WA specific issues raised by scheme stakeholders. A consultation paper was released for public comment in early 2026.