What happens at a WorkCover appointment, step by step

Being injured at work is stressful enough without the process around it being a mystery. If you have never made a claim before, here is what the first GP appointment actually involves.

Before you come in

Book a long appointment and say it is for a work injury. The first WorkCover consultation involves both an assessment and paperwork and it will not fit into a standard slot.

Bring what you have:

• Your employer’s name and the name of your supervisor or return-to-work coordinator
• The date the injury happened and how it happened
• Your claim number, if a claim has already been lodged
• A description of what your job actually involves day to day

That last one matters more than people expect. Your GP cannot write a sensible certificate about your capacity for work without understanding what the work is.

At the appointment

The assessment. Your GP examines the injury, asks how it happened and works out what is going on. You may be sent for imaging or referred to a physiotherapist or a specialist.

The Certificate of Capacity. This is the document the whole process runs on. It records your diagnosis, your treatment and — the part that matters most — what you are and are not able to do at work. It covers a defined period, not indefinitely.

The certificate is not a simple fit or unfit judgement. It can specify modified duties, reduced hours or restrictions on particular tasks. If you can do some of your job but not all of it, that is what it should say.

The plan. Before you leave, you should know what treatment is happening, when you are being reviewed and what the certificate says about your work.

After the first appointment

Certificates run for a set period, so you will need review appointments before each one expires. Book the next one before you leave — a gap in certification causes real problems with payments.

Your GP may also communicate with your employer and the insurer about your recovery and your return to work. That is a normal part of the process and it happens with your knowledge.

Common questions

Can I change GP partway through a claim? Yes. Bring your claim number and any certificates you already have. You do not need anyone’s permission.

Do I pay for the appointment? WorkCover consultations are billed to the insurer rather than to Medicare. Reception will explain how this works for your claim before your appointment.

What if I disagree with what the certificate says? Talk to your GP. The certificate should reflect a realistic picture of what you can do and that is a conversation, not a verdict handed down.

More detail is on our WorkCover and workplace injury page or call reception on 03 5174 6711.