How to get workers compensation insurance

Total wages includes:

• salary/wages
• overtime, shift and other allowances
• over-award payments
• bonuses or commissions
• payments to working directors (including directors' fees), or amounts received instead of wages (including payments to family members)
• payments to pieceworkers
• payments for sick leave, public holidays and associated leave loadings
• value of any substitutes for cash
• employer paid or payable superannuation contributions (including the superannuation guarantee levy)
• grossed-up value of fringe benefits (allowances subject to fringe benefits tax are counted at the grossed-up value, that is the value of the benefit multiplied by the relevant Australian Tax Office fringe benefit formula)
• long service leave payments (including lump sum payments instead of long service leave)
• termination payments (lump sum payments in respect of annual leave, long service leave, sick leave and related leave loadings)
• trust distributions to workers where the distribution is in lieu of wages for work done for the trust.

Wages do not include:

• payments to non-working directors
• compensation payments under the Workers Compensation Act 1987

GST components to worker payments.

There are many types of workers and contractors who may be required to be covered by your workers compensation policy.

Make sure you count all workers and ‘deemed workers’, which are listed in Schedule 1 of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998.

The Worker or contractor tool can help guide you in the determining the status of your worker.

If you’re unsure, you will need to apply for a private ruling.

Even if a private ruling found the claimant was not a worker, an employer can still be exposed to a workers compensation claim or claims-related matter.

To apply for workers compensation insurance, contact a licensed insurer from the list below.

Tell them how much you have paid or expect to pay in wages, and how many workers need to be covered.

Most businesses obtain insurance through icare or through a specialised insurer for their industry.

If you’re a larger employer, you may consider applying to become a self-insurer to manage your own workers compensation claims.

Licensed to provide workers compensation insurance to:

* pharmacies operating in NSW

* employers providing child care services

Phone 1800810 213

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.guildinsurance.com.au

Licensed to provide workers compensation insurance to the NSW accommodation and hospitality industries including, pubs, bars, taverns, clubs, restaurants, cafes and takeaway businesses.

Phone: (02) 8251 9069

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://hii.au/

Licensed to provide workers compensation insurance to employers in the coal industry under the Coal Industry Act 2001.

Phone: 8270 3257

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.coalminesinsurance.com.au

Licensed to provide workers compensation insurance to local councils in NSW.

Phone: 8235 2800

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.statecover.com.au

Licensed to provide workers compensation insurance to employers whose main business or industrial activity concern activities undertaken by registered race clubs and licensed trainers in the NSW thoroughbred racing and training industry.

phone: 9551 7500

email: [email protected]

website: www.racingnsw.com.au/default.aspx

Find out how to apply to become a specialised insurer

Licensed to provide workers compensation insurance to employers whose main business or industrial activity applies to the Roman Catholic Church and its religious institutions.

Website: www.trinityinsurance.com.au

Self-insurers are employers approved by SIRA to manage their own workers compensation claims.

They include:

• 3M Australia Pty Limited
• Aldi Stores (A Limited Partnership)
• Ausgrid Management Pty Ltd
• BIC Services Pty Limited
• BOC Limited
• Campbelltown City Council
• Canterbury-Bankstown Council
• Central Coast Council
• Commonwealth Steel Company Pty Ltd
• Council of the City of Blacktown
• Council of the City of Lake Macquarie
• Council of the City of Newcastle
• Council of the City of Sydney
• Council of the City of Wollongong
• Endeavour Energy Network Management Pty Ltd
• Estia Investments Pty Ltd
• Fairfield City Council
• Fletcher International Exports Pty Limited
• Hawkesbury City Council
• Hays Specialist Recruitment Australia Pty Ltd
• Inghams Enterprises Pty Limited
• ISS Property Services Pty Ltd
• Liverpool City Council
• Mars Australia Pty Ltd
• Northern Beaches Council
• NSW Trains
• Shoalhaven City Council
• Southern Meats Pty Limited
• Sutherland Shire Council
• Sydney Trains
• Tomago Aluminium Company Pty Ltd
• University of New South Wales
• University of Wollongong
• Ventia Australia Pty Ltd
• Veolia Environmental Services (Australia) Pty Limited
• Westpac Banking Corporation

Find out how to apply to become a self-insurer

• Adecco Holdings Pty Ltd
• Australian Unity Limited
• Bluescope Steel Limited
• Boral Limited
• Brambles Industries Limited
• Brickworks Limited
• Coca-Cola Europacific Partners API Pty Ltd
• Coles Group Limited
• ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia Pty Ltd
• Colin Joss & Co Pty Limited
• CSR Limited
• DAC Finance Pty Ltd
• Endeavour Group Limited
• Food Investments Pty Ltd
• Healius Limited
• Holcim (Australia) Holdings Pty Limited
• Kelsian Group Ltd
• Liberty Holdings Australia Limited
• Life Without Barriers
• McDonald's Australia Holdings Limited
• Myer Holdings Limited
• Northern Co-operative Meat Company Limited
• Persol Australia Holdings Ltd
• Qantas Airways Limited
• Randstad Holdings Pty Ltd
• RGF Staffing APEJ Pty Ltd
• Sonic Healthcare Limited
• The Star Entertainment Group Ltd
• Thomas Foods International Consolidated Pty Ltd
• Toll Holdings Limited
• Unilever Australia (Holdings) Pty Ltd
• VENTORA Group Pty Ltd
• Wesfarmers Ltd
• Woolworths Group Ltd

Find out how to apply to become a self-insurer.