Information for businesses
In the Northern Territory, workers' compensation insurance is compulsory for every employer who is not a self-insurer. Despite the best intentions, accidents can happen. As a business owner, you want to protect yourself - and your employees.
Any business that employs or hires workers on a full-time, part-time or casual basis, under an oral or written contract of service or apprenticeship, must have workers' compensation insurance that covers all workers.
If you are a director of a company, you are only covered if your company has taken out a workers' compensation policy with an approved insurer and your personal details and your remuneration have been disclosed to the insurer.
If the business is owned by an individual or partnership (not a company), immediate family members who live with those individuals are only covered if their personal details and their remuneration are disclosed to the insurer at the time the person commences employment, when a policy is obtained or at the renewal of a policy.
If a worker suffers a workplace injury or disease, the employers’ workers' compensation insurance policy may provide the injured worker with weekly benefits, medical and hospital expenses, rehabilitation services, certain personal items and a lump sum payment for permanent impairment on the basis set by the particular scheme.
Only insurance companies approved by NT WorkSafe are able to sell employers in the Northern Territory a workers' compensation insurance policy.
Insurance premiums are market driven and set by individual insurers based upon claims performance.
If a worker suffers a workplace injury or disease, the NT WorkSafe 'workers' compensation claim form' is the only approved form for lodging a workers' compensation claim in the Northern Territory.
Both the injured worker and the employer must complete the claim form by following the instructions included with the form.
Important changes to workers' compensation legislation
The Return to Work Legislation Amendment Act 2020 reverses a number of changes made to the legislation in 2015 and improves the operation of the NT Workers Compensation Scheme.
The scheme provides no fault coverage for eligible workers who are injured at work and supports injured workers financially whilst they are assisted to return to work.
Read further information on the information on the Changes to the Workers' Compensation Legislation.
Video Resources
The below videos have been developed to give businesses helpful information about workers compensation:
Related Forms and Resources
| Forms |
|---|
| Workers compensation claim form |
| Guides |
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| Employers guide to workers compensation |