NT WorkSafe works with employers and employees to ensure injured workers have access to medical, pharmaceutical, rehabilitation costs and income support until the injured worker is fit to return to work.
Under the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, all employers must hold a workers compensation insurance policy to cover all their employees. Insurance companies must be approved by NT WorkSafe to sell workers compensation insurance and they are responsible for managing claims from injured workers.
The Northern Territory Workers Compensation Scheme provides a fair level of benefits to workers and ensures that employers contribute fairly towards meeting the costs related to workplace injury through a market driven insurance premium setting process, based upon the safety performance of Territory industry. Compensation benefits are linked to community standards and adjusted annually.
The Workers Compensation Scheme is underwritten by approved insurers and self insurers. To ensure the consistency of claims service, approved insurers and self insurers must agree to comply with NT WorkSafe's Best Practice Guidelines.
Most people injured at work return to work within a few days but those with more serious injuries may need help through rehabilitation. This could involve treatment for a physical injury, through psychological counselling to help a person adjust to an injury or to a stressful work situation.
The support provided to an injured employee may include a gradual return to work, workplace based rehabilitation or retraining for a different job.
Rehabilitation works best where:
The following bulletins provide information on the compensation and rehabilitation arrangements in the Northern Territory.