Comcare

Comcare is the common name for the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, the Australian Government agency responsible for administering the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety (WHS) and Workers' Compensation Scheme.

Overview:

Comcare provides a national scheme that covers Australian Government employees and employees of licensed corporations. Its primary functions include:

• Prevention: Promoting and regulating work health and safety to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. This involves providing guidance, education, and conducting inspections.
• Rehabilitation: Supporting injured employees in their recovery and return to work through case management, rehabilitation programs, and access to medical services.
• Compensation: Providing financial compensation to injured employees for lost wages, medical expenses, and other related costs.
• Regulation: Enforcing compliance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 within its jurisdiction. This includes investigating workplace incidents, issuing notices, and prosecuting breaches of the Act.
• Claims Management: Managing workers' compensation claims efficiently and fairly.

Coverage:

The Comcare scheme typically covers:

• Employees of Australian Government departments and agencies.
• Employees of Commonwealth authorities.
• Employees of licensed corporations operating under a Comcare licence.

Legislation:

Comcare operates under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act). The WHS Act sets out the framework for work health and safety in Australia, while the SRC Act provides the framework for workers' compensation and rehabilitation.

Licensing:

Private sector employers can apply for a licence to self-insure under the Comcare scheme. Licensed corporations are responsible for managing their own workers' compensation claims and rehabilitation programs.

Relationship to Other Schemes:

Comcare is one of several workers' compensation schemes in Australia. Each state and territory also has its own workers' compensation scheme, which covers employees working in those jurisdictions who are not covered by Comcare.