Medical practitioners have a key role in the injury management process.
For a worker to make a valid compensation claim involving time off work, the injured worker must supply a medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner to their employer. The certificate must be in the following approved forms:
Workers in remote areas who may not have easy access to a medical practitioner can supply a certificate from a registered nurse, an enrolled nurse or a registered Aboriginal health worker. Regulation 12 of the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act imposes time limits for the effect of these certificates. Other than these exceptions, the certificate must be from a medical practitioner.
The treating medical practitioner may refer the worker to other medical practitioners for the workers treatment and may be called upon to provide a medical opinion to the injured workers insurer or self insurer.
Insurers and self insurers who require information about an injury relating to a claim must seek the medical opinion of the treating medical practitioner first.
Insurers and self insurers may seek a second opinion, however before doing so must: