5.9.5.5 Claim during WISE placement

If a worker makes a claim during a WISE The WorkSafe Incentive Scheme for Employers (WISE) aims to secure full or part-time, durable work for workers who cannot RTW with their injury employer by placing them with a new employer. The new employer is paid a wage subsidy for taking on the worker. placement, the Agent must determine whether the injury is linked to the original claim or a new injury.

See: Claims Management

New injury sustained with WISE employer

If a new injury occurs or the original injury reoccurs during a WISE placement, the WISE employer is responsible for paying the employer excess unless they have a buyout option applying to their WorkCover insurance.

Note: Employer excess amounts are indexed on 1 July each year.

The new claim is managed by the WISE employer's WorkSafe Agent and any weekly payments are based on the pre-injury average weekly earnings PIAWE they paid.

See: PIAWE

However, as the WISE employer has WorkCover premium protection for a claim during a WISE placement, the claims costs are not allocated against the WISE employer’s insurance.

Note: When registering the new claim on the CL03 Record injury/Disease details (2) screen, the WorkSafe Agent should type ‘WIP’ in the ‘Employment program’ field to make sure the claim is excluded for premium purposes.

Continuing injury on the pre-WISE claim

If the injury is a continuation of a pre-WISE injury, any weekly payment and/or medical and like entitlements are paid on the pre-WISE claim. For premium purposes, all costs for a continuing injury claim are allocated to the employer associated with the pre-WISE claim.

If the injury represents a new claim, then the worker must be instructed to forward all their medical certificates and/or medical and like service invoices to the Agent managing the new claim.

Returning to the WISE placement after injury

As part of the worker’s return to work, the WorkSafe Agent may approve the OR Occupational Rehabilitation provider involved in the WISE placement to complete a RC810 Workplace report to make sure the worker can continue in the placement.

Email questions about WISE to occupational_rehab@worksafe.vic.gov.au.