Employers Mutual
By phone: 1300 365 105
By fax: (08) 8127 1200
By post: GPO Box 2575, Adelaide SA 5001
Online at: www.employersmutual.com.au
Employers Mutual is contracted by WorkCover to provide workers rehabilitation and compensation services to injured workers.

WorkCoverSA
By phone: 13 18 55 (Service Centre)
By fax: (08) 8233 2990
By post: GPO Box 2668, Adelaide SA 5001

Self-insured employers
In accordance with self-insured employers policies and procedures.

• Upon receipt of the mandatory information required, the claim will be assessed by Employers Mutual or the self-insurer within seven (7) calendar days.
• The injured worker will be notified in writing with a decision about their entitlements in a claim determination letter advising whether payments will commence on a provisional basis, or a claim for compensation has been accepted.
• The employer will also be provided with a copy of the claim determination letter.
• If a decision is made not to commence payments or pay medical expenses, a reason will be provided and options made available for the worker and employer if they are not satisfied with the decision.

Employers Mutual or the self-insured employer is responsible for most of the decisions relating to your claim, including:

• managing and coordinating rehabilitation and return to work plans for the injured worker
• determining if a claim is eligible for compensation
• managing an injured worker's claim for compensation
• providing advice to workers and employers on rehabilitation and compensation
• providing advice to employers on health and safety in the workplace.

A claim for compensation needs to be lodged within six months of the disability arising or 13 weeks for payments to commence on a provisional basis. In some cases you may be able to lodge a claim after this period. Contact us on 13 18 55 to discuss this if you need clarification

Your treating doctor will decide if you need time off work or restrictions or modifications to your employment are required and will issue you with a WorkCover Medical Certificate (formally known as a PMC). A WorkCover Medical Certificate is required to lodge a claim for compensation and is part of the mandatory information defined in the Provisional payment guidelines.

Decisions on whether claims are accepted or rejected are determined by Employers Mutual or the self-insured employer. Unless further information is needed a decision will be made about whether to commence payments on a provisional basis within seven (7) calendar days from receipt of the notification with the mandatory information or ten (10) days if a claim for compensation has been lodged. If you have lodged a claim recently and want more information about the process see acceptance of a claim or contact the agent.

Employers Mutual is contracted by WorkCover to provider workers rehabilitation and compensation services to injured workers. The claims agent is responsible for most of the decisions relating to the claim, and the day to day claims management. This includes:

• determining if a claim is eligible for compensation
• managing the claim for compensation
• providing advice to workers and employers on rehabilitation and compensation
• managing and coordinating your rehabilitation and return to work
• providing advice to employers on health and safety in the workplace.

If you are an injured worker, in many cases, Employers Mutual or your self-insured employer will talk to the treating doctor (with your consent) before a decision is made to commence payments.

For more information on claim decisions, see help if you're not satisfied.

If you are a worker, the decision on the claim will be made in a formal letter called a claim determination letter. This letter will be sent to you directly, detailing how your claim for compensation has been determined. Your employer will also be provided with a copy of the claim determination letter.

If you are an injured worker the first point of contact for information or advice on the progress of your claim, or decisions relating to compensation and return to work is your claims agent.

If a worker or their employer is unhappy with the service provided by our agent, contact WorkCover for advice or make a complaint.

This free and confidential service is backed by more than 100 years of union expertise and experience and will enable workers to continue to have their cases managed independently.

The workers compensation service is a real asset to SA Unions and workers and will enable SA Unions to constantly strengthen our knowledge of the workers compensation system and find ways to improve the treatment of injured workers and assist their healthy and safe return to work.

SA Unions
46 Greenhill Rd, Wayville, SA 5034
Phone: 1800 677 687
Fax: 08 8279 2219
Email: Workers Compensation
Web: www.saunions.org.au

Injured workers and employers also have an opportunity to contact a wide range of independent organisations to discuss workers rehabilitation and compensation issues.

Please note: while we recognise the role these groups play in providing advice WorkCover is unable to endorse the specific advice they may provide to injured workers and employers.

SA Unions, Workers Compensation
Phone: 1800 677 687

Business SA, Workers Compensation
Phone: (08) 8300 0000

If you have a problem relating to the operation of the WorkCover Scheme, you can contact the WorkCover Ombudsman, who runs an independent office set up to investigate complaints. The Ombudsman can implement the 'safety net' for injured workers, testing the reasonableness of decisions to stop weekly payments. To contact the Office of the WorkCover Ombudsman please phone (08) 8463 6593, email owo@sa.gov.au or visit www.wcombudsmansa.com.au.