Injured at Work? The Workers Compensation Claim Process Explained

Getting injured on the job is stressful enough without also being confused about what to actually do next. The process is more straightforward than it feels in the moment — but the timelines matter, and missing them can genuinely cost you.

The short version (TL;DR)

• Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible — most states require notification within 30 days, though acting immediately is always better.
• See a doctor and get a medical certificate (a “Certificate of Capacity” or your state’s equivalent) confirming the injury and your capacity to work.
• Complete a workers compensation claim form and give it, with your medical certificate, to your employer.
• Your employer generally has around 7 days to forward your claim to their insurer, who then typically has around 21 days to accept or reject it.
• You generally have up to 6 months to lodge a claim in most states, though this can sometimes be extended to up to 3 years with a reasonable explanation for the delay.
• This process applies to employees — self-employed tradies on an ABN generally aren’t covered by workers compensation and need private income protection instead. See our insurance guide for that side of things.

The actual step-by-step process

1. Get first aid and report the injury immediately. Tell your employer or supervisor as soon as it happens, even if it seems minor at first — some injuries (particularly cumulative ones like back strain) are easier to link to a specific incident if reported early.
2. See a doctor of your choice. You don’t have to use an employer-nominated doctor — ask specifically for a Certificate of Capacity (or your state’s equivalent name for this document), which confirms the injury and states what work you can and can’t do.
3. Complete the claim form. Your employer or their insurer can provide this — fill it out accurately and keep copies of everything before handing over the originals.
4. Your employer lodges it with their insurer, generally within about 7 days of receiving your completed claim and certificate.
5. The insurer assesses your claim, generally within around 21 days, though you may start receiving provisional payments while it’s being assessed in many cases.

Timeframes you actually need to know

Most states require you to lodge your claim within 6 months of the injury or illness. Missing this window doesn’t automatically end your options — claims can sometimes still be accepted up to 3 years later if you can show a reasonable cause for the delay — but acting promptly gives you the smoothest path and avoids arguments about timing on top of everything else.

What if your claim is rejected?

A rejected claim isn’t necessarily the end of the road — every state has a review or dispute process, and many injured workers successfully have an initial rejection overturned on review or appeal. This is a genuine area where getting advice from a workers compensation lawyer or your union (many offer free initial advice) is worth doing rather than accepting a rejection at face value.

Why this doesn’t apply if you’re on an ABN

Workers compensation is specifically an employee entitlement — if you’re a genuine sole trader or subcontractor on your own ABN, you’re generally not covered by your client or head contractor’s workers compensation insurance the way an employee would be. This is exactly the gap that private income protection insurance is designed to cover — see our guide to insurance tradies actually need for more on that.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to use my employer’s preferred doctor?
No — you generally have the right to see a doctor of your own choosing for your workers compensation claim, not just one nominated by your employer or their insurer.

What if I don’t report the injury straight away?
Report it as soon as you reasonably can — most states allow up to 30 days for notification, but delays can make it harder to link the injury clearly to work, so acting quickly is always the safer option.

Am I covered if I’m a subcontractor on my own ABN?
Generally no — workers compensation is an employee entitlement. Self-employed tradies typically need private income protection insurance instead, since there’s no statutory workers comp safety net for genuine ABN contractors.

What happens if my claim gets rejected?
You can generally seek a review or dispute the decision — a workers compensation lawyer or your union can advise on your specific options, and rejected claims are sometimes successfully overturned on review.

This guide is general information only — not legal advice. Workers compensation processes, timeframes and entitlements vary by state; confirm the exact process for your situation with your state’s workers compensation authority or a workers compensation lawyer.

Sources:
Slater and Gordon — The five simple steps to making a workers’ compensation claim
WorkSafe Queensland — Claim process