What it does
The Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 (Vic) (the Act) is Victoria's central workers compensation statute for injuries occurring on or after 1 July 2014. Its purpose under section 1 is to simplify the rehabilitation and compensation provisions for post-2014 injuries, streamline the remaining provisions of the Accident Compensation Act 1985 for pre-2014 injuries, provide a single gateway for all claims, and maintain a fully funded scheme.
The Act imposes mandatory insurance obligations on employers, governs the full life cycle of a workplace injury claim from notice through to dispute resolution or common law proceedings, and creates an interlocking set of rights and obligations for workers, employers, the Victorian WorkCover Authority (WorkSafe Victoria), authorised agents, and self-insurers.
The objectives in section 10 define what the scheme is trying to achieve: reducing workplace accidents, ensuring effective rehabilitation and early return to work, treating all claimants fairly and with dignity (added in 2025), containing costs, maintaining full funding, and improving workplace health and safety across the Victorian economy.