WorkCover is a government-run workers’ compensation scheme that provides benefits and support to workers who are injured or become ill as a result of their work.

Who is eligible to make a WorkCover claim?

Any employee in NSW who suffers a work-related injury or illness may be eligible to claim.

What benefits can I receive under WorkCover?

You may receive wage support, medical care, rehabilitation, and lump sum payments for permanent impairment.

Are WorkCover benefits limited or capped?

Yes, benefits are capped and depend on your earnings, injury type, and level of impairment.

How is compensation calculated?

Compensation is based on your pre-injury income, medical assessments, and work capacity.

Can I claim lump sum compensation?

Only workers with a permanent impairment above a set threshold may claim this compensation.

Will I receive weekly payments while I’m unable to work?

Yes, weekly payments cover a percentage of the income you lose while unable to work.

Workers Comp · Illawarra

Workers Comp in Shellharbour — Where to Start

Injured at work? Here’s exactly what to do next.

Across Shellharbour, a midwife on a delivery shift ends up with a back injury from awkward birthing positions or an aggression incident more often than the local stats suggest. The first move is a Certificate of Capacity — a doctor familiar with WorkCover wording can hand one over in a single sitting. Once the file is open, the rehab provider, employer and treating team finally have a shared starting point.

Book a WorkCover Doctor (02) 7238 7379

Workers Comp Help in Shellharbour

The first 3 steps

Workers Comp in Shellharbour — How It Starts

See a WorkCover doctor

For kitchen burns, slip injuries, lifting strain, or repetitive-strain wrist issues, your first stop is a WorkCover-trained doctor.

Book a doctor in Shellharbour

Get your Certificate of Capacity

Your doctor issues this on the first visit. It’s the legal document that proves you have a work injury and tells the insurer how much you can work and what treatment you need. No paperwork on your end — the doctor handles it.

Notify your employer

You’re legally required to tell your employer about a work injury — a text or email is enough. Once they get your Certificate of Capacity, they pass it to their workers comp insurer. The claim opens, and wages and treatment get covered from that point.

Common workers comp claims in Shellharbour

Workers comp claims in Shellharbour most often come from the local retail and healthcare workforces, alongside the back, shoulder, and stress injuries common across every industry.

Shellharbour runs along a stretch of beach and headlands south of Wollongong, with Stockland Shellharbour, Shellharbour Hospital, and the marina precinct forming the commercial backbone. A mix of retail, hospitality, and trade workers live across the area, and slip-trip and manual-handling claims feature heavily through the local claim base.

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