Workplace Health and Safety Queensland: Your Rights and Obligations When Dealing with WHS Inspectors

After a serious workplace injury, people are often surprised to learn that more than one process can start at the same time. Alongside workers’ compensation and any potential common law claim, the workplace itself may come under investigation by the safety regulator. In Queensland, that regulator is Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, commonly referred to … Read more

Claiming Damages After Missing the 6-Month WorkCover Deadline

At Roche Legal, we regularly speak with injured workers who are concerned they have missed the 6-month deadline to lodge a WorkCover claim. While the law in Queensland is strict, missing that deadline does not automatically end your rights. There are pathways that may still allow you to recover compensation and, in some cases, pursue … Read more

WorkCover Lump Sum Payment Amounts 2026-27: Permanent Impairment Tables + Calculator

 If you’ve received a Notice of Assessment from WorkCover Queensland with a degree of permanent impairment (DPI) score, you are likely entitled to a lump sum payment. This page explains how the amount is calculated and includes a calculator so you can check your exact entitlement instantly. Lump Sum Calculator Enter your injury year … Read more

Appeals to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) – 2024

Queensland Industrial Relations Commission 2024 appeals statistics

The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) is a specialist tribunal that deals with employment and workers’ compensation disputes. Unlike the Queensland Court of Appeal, which reviews trial court decisions, the QIRC handles appeals from decisions made by WorkCover Queensland or the Workers’ Compensation Regulator. It is not a court in the traditional sense but has … Read more

My Employer Lied About My Workers’ Compensation Claim: What Can I Do?

If you believe your employer or their insurer has given a false account of what happened to you, or has held back documents that would support your claim, you are not imagining the problem and you are not without options. It happens often enough that the Queensland courts have dealt with it directly. When they … Read more

Emotional Distress: Can I Sue WorkCover For Mishandling My Claim?

It is extremely common for injured persons on WorkCover to complain about how the WorkCover claims manager treats them throughout their recovery. It’s also reasonably common for injured workers to feel that they have been treated so unfairly and prejudicially that it’s caused them emotional distress or a psychological injury. Whilst on WorkCover, an injured … Read more

How long can you stay on WorkCover Queensland?

Workcover Queensland's photograph of two tradesmen smiling.

WorkCover Queensland is the largest workers’ compensation insurer in Queensland, Australia. If you’ve been injured at work, WorkCover may provide you with financial and medical support during your recovery period. The length of time you can stay on WorkCover Queensland depends on several factors, such as the severity of your injury, your medical needs, and … Read more

The importance of “asking” WorkCover for a Notice of Assessment

We often dispel a common misconception that it is not possible to bring a common law claim for damages after the expiry of 3 years since the date of the event causing the injury, set out by s.11 of the Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (Qld) (‘LAA’). When an injured person makes a statutory workers’ compensation claim, s.302 of the Workers’ … Read more

“No Win No Fee” – All You Need To Know to Maximise Your Claim and Minimise Risks

A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Choose the Best No Win No Fee Lawyer for Your Case Important Note: In Queensland, providing legal services on a no win no fee basis for family law or criminal law matters is illegal – so law firms typically only offer no win no fee services with respect to … Read more

Injured support worker wins TPD claim of over $150,000 after slipping in shower

Shower nozzle causing slip and fall injury

The Accident In 2019, a client of ROCHE Legal in their late 50’s was working as a disability support worker. The support worker was unfortunately injured at work when assisting an elderly resident in a well-known disability support and aged care facility take a shower. Specifically, the injury occurred when the support worker slipped in … Read more