6.1.5.4 Medical and like expenses
The reasonable costs of medical and like services, burial or cremation costs (including repatriation if required) and family counselling, therapy and other support services can be claimed by any person who has incurred the expense. Agents and Self-Insurers must be pro-active in advising family members In relation to a work-related: • severe injury for which immediate inpatient treatment in hospital is received • eligible progressive disease • fatal injury a ‘family member’ means a partner, parent, grandparent, sibling or child of the worker or of the worker's partner. Note: this definition is not the same as a close family member. of their entitlement to family counselling, therapy and other support services without delay, subject to the acceptance of the claim.
Provisional payments of the reasonable costs for medical and like services are also available.
See: Types of Immediate Support payments
Medical and like services
Expenses for medical and like services may be incurred between the date of the worker's injury and the date of death. Services include hospitalisation, ambulance transportation, medical treatment, supported accommodation (e.g. nursing home) etc.
Burial or cremation expenses
WorkSafe can pay the reasonable costs for the deceased worker’s:
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burial or cremation: the maximum payable is $15,230 upon receipt of the invoice.
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repatriation of their body or remains for the purpose of a burial or cremation: the maximum payable is $15,000 upon receipt of invoice or other evidence.
Note: Agents should direct queries on accounts received for a service over the maximum amount to the Coordinator, Death and Dependency Claims at WorkSafe.
See: Burial or cremation
Travel & accommodation expenses to attend a burial or cremation service
WorkSafe can pay reasonable costs of travel or accommodation expenses incurred by immediate family members of a worker where:
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a burial or cremation service is held in respect of the worker and
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the service is held at least 100 kilometres from the normal residence of the worker’s family members.
The maximum amount payable is based on the date of death and is shared between the entire family (i.e. not an individual amount).
For current and prior amounts, see: Indexation of travel & accommodation expenses
See: Travel & accommodation for family members
Family counselling and other supports
WorkSafe can pay the reasonable cost of family counselling and other supports, where applicable to family members where:
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a worker sustains a severe injury requiring immediate inpatient treatment in a hospital
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a worker has an eligible progressive disease
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the injury results in the worker's death.
Family members are entitled to:
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family counselling, if the worker’s death occurred before 6 August 2025
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family counselling, therapy and other support services, if the worker’s death occurred on or after 6 August 2025.
Family members include a worker's partner, parent Parent of a worker includes a person who has day to day care and control of the worker, grandparent, sibling, child or child of the worker's partner.
Services must be provided in Australia:
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for counselling, by a medical practitioner, registered psychologist Registered psychologist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the psychology profession (other than as a student). or a social worker social worker means a person accredited with the Australian Association of Social Work and registered with WorkSafe to provide social work services (other than as a student) approved by WorkSafe
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for therapy and other support services, by a person or class of person approved by WorkSafe
Note: The types of therapy and other support services which can be funded will be set out in directions made by the Minister and published in the Government Gazette.
The maximum amount payable is based on the date of death and is shared between the entire family (i.e. not an individual amount) .
For current and prior amounts, see: Family counselling and other supports (maximum indexed rates)
If the injury results in the worker's death and family members have received family counselling for the severe injury or eligible progressive disease, the maximum amount payable for family counselling restarts from the date of death.
Note: Agents should direct queries on accounts received for a service over the maximum amount or for a service not approved to the Coordinator, Death and Dependency Claims at WorkSafe.
See: Family counselling and other supports | Bereavement Support Service
Forensic cleaning
WorkSafe can pay the reasonable costs for cleaning and decontaminating services incurred by immediate family members of the deceased worker to make the home safe and habitable again where the death:
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occurred on or after 6 August 2025
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occurred at the worker’s home or the family member In relation to a work-related: • severe injury for which immediate inpatient treatment in hospital is received • eligible progressive disease • fatal injury a ‘family member’ means a partner, parent, grandparent, sibling or child of the worker or of the worker's partner. Note: this definition is not the same as a close family member.’s home.
The maximum amount payable is determined by WorkSafe.
Note: Agents should direct all requests, quotes and invoices for service exceeding $5,000 to the Coordinator Death and Dependency Claims at WorkSafe.
See: Forensic cleaning
Claiming for medical and like expenses
A claim for medical and like expenses can be made using the Claim for Compensation Following a Work-related Death form.
Where a person is claiming for a dependency weekly pension or lump sum, the reasonable costs of burial or cremation (including repatriation if required), medical and like services and family counselling, therapy and other support services form part of this claim and do not need to be claimed separately.
Copies of relevant accounts or receipts should be provided with the claim. If not provided, the Agent or Self-Insurer must take steps to obtain these whilst liability is being determined.
Payment when liability accepted
With the exception of Immediate Support payments, payment of reasonable medical and like services can only be made once it has been determined that the death is work-related. If the claim includes an application for dependency and/or compensation in recognition of their grief and loss, the Agent or Self-insurer must not wait for these entitlements to be established before making these medical and like payments.
Once liability has been accepted the Agent or Self-Insurer organises payment of the reasonable medical and like services, including burial or cremation costs, subject to the supply of valid accounts or receipts.
For information on how liability is assessed - see: Receive a claim.
Employer threshold
The employer excess does not apply to Immediate Support payments.
If liability to pay compensation in respect of the death is accepted, the employer threshold is limited to medical and like services only such as ambulance, hospital and medical treatment, etc.
The employer has no liability for:
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burial or cremation costs (including repatriation costs)
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family counselling, therapy and other support services
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travel and accommodation expenses for family members to attend a funeral service more than 100km from their residence
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forensic cleaning services.
Conciliation if liability is rejected
If a claim for medical and likes expenses is rejected, including costs of burial or cremation (including repatriation, if applicable) and family counselling, therapy and other support services, , the person making the claim can lodge a request for conciliation.
Conciliation is not required when the rejected claim includes a claim for dependency. In these cases, the dispute proceeds to the Magistrates’ Court or County Court.