Workers' Compensation

The workers' compensation scheme is legislated through the:

The legislation establishes that the Northern Territory has a no fault workers' rehabilitation and compensation scheme. If a worker suffers an injury or disease in the course of employment they may be eligible for entitlements such as:

  • payment of medical and other reasonable expenses
  • weekly payments of income maintenance while away from work
  • rehabilitation services
  • assistance to return to work

Additionally, if a work accident results in the death of a worker, the family of the worker may be entitled to a lump sum payment and / or income maintenance.

Management of psychological claims

A national framework was developed in partnership with Safe Work Australia and SuperFriend, a national mental health foundation and reflects the important role of the insurer and employer in a person-centred claims management process.

Taking action: A best practice framework for the management of psychological claims in Australian workers compensation key focus is to empower and support workers who suffer or are at risk of developing a psychological injury by providing practical and evidence based guidelines to help workers compensation insurers and claims managers to better support workers.

The framework consists of six action areas as shown below:

1. Developing the management practices for psychological claims
2. Optimising claims management teams
3. Engaging and supporting employers in the recovery at work/return to work process
4. Brining evidence to treatment and rehabilitation
5. Effective decision making supported by analytics and automation
6. Recording progress

While the framework was developed with a focus on psychological injuries, many of the framework's best practice principles can also be applied to the treatment of physical injury claims - both as a means to better claims management practices and also to aid in preventing injured workers developing a secondary psychological injury.

Changes to the Return to Work Legislation 2020

The Northern Territory Legislative Assembly has passed amendments to the Return to Work Act 1986 and Return to Work Regulations 1986.

This Act commenced on the 29th of July 2020, as fixed by Government Gazette.

The Return to Work Legislation Amendment Act 2020 reversed a number of changes made to the legislation in 2015 and improves the operation of the NT Workers Compensation Scheme.

Changes to the Return to Work Legislation 2020

Video Resources

The below videos have been developed to give helpful information about injuries and claims:

Related Forms and Resources

Bulletins
Alternative employer incentive scheme (AEIS)
Average weekly earnings (AWE) figures for 2014
Average weekly earnings (AWE) figures for 2015
Average weekly earnings (AWE) figures for 2016
Average weekly earnings (AWE) figures for 2017
Average weekly earnings (AWE) figures for 2018
Average weekly earnings (AWE) figures for 2019
Average weekly earnings (AWE) figures for 2020
Average weekly earnings (AWE) figures for 2021
Average weekly earnings (AWE) figures for 2022
Average weekly earnings (AWE) figures for 2023
Average weekly earnings (AWE) figures for 2024  New
Continued weekly compensation payments outside Australia
Definition of a Worker
Dispute resolution
Guidelines for the settling of journey claims
Independent Medical Examinations
Injured at work poster
Mediation process for workers compensation
Medical practitioners guide to permanent impairment assessment
Normal weekly earnings (NWE)
Permanent impairment entitlement
Preparation for workers compensation mediation
Rehabilitation – Information for employers
Return to work plans (RTWP)
Return to work proposal
Workers compensation insurance requirements for employers
Workers compensation – Cross border information
Checklists
Permanent impairment assessment checklist for medical practitioners
Forms
Application for mediation
Application for permanent impairment reassessment
Application for renewal as an accredited vocational rehabilitation provider - RENEWAL
Application to become a vocational rehabilitation provider - NEW
Death claim form - Employers report
Death claim form – Dependant
Declaration of worker residing outside Australia
Medical certificate of capacity – Final
Medical certificate of capacity – First
Medical certificate of capacity – Progress
Workers compensation claim form
Guides
Best practice guidelines for approved insurers and self-insurers
Employers guide to workers compensation
Guidelines for approval as a vocational rehabilitation provider in the NT
NT WorkSafe guidelines for the evaluation of permanent impairment
Principles of Practice for Workplace Rehabilitation Providers
Summary of changes to the Northern Territory Workers Compensation Scheme – 2020
Workers guide to workers compensation