'Not only is it a crime, it's a breach of community trust'
A business manager in Victoria has been placed on Community Corrections Order after dishonestly claiming $114,952 in workers' compensation payments.
The manager, 57, was convicted and placed on an 18-month Community Corrections Order with a condition to perform 180 hours of unpaid community work, according to WorkSafe Victoria.
The conviction comes following the man's dishonest claim to workers' compensation payments while secretly working a full-time job.
According to WorkSafe, the man filed a claim in April 2021 after slipping and injuring his leg, shoulder, and lower back while working for a plant hire company. His workers' compensation claim was accepted in June 2021, but he continued to work and submitted medical certificates stating he was unable to work.
In May 2022, he underwent surgery but did not return to work, instead starting a new job as a business manager for a rail freight company, earning a $200,000 salary.
While receiving compensation payments, the man submitted 13 medical certificates, 11 of which falsely claimed he was not employed. He also denied his employment status when asked by WorkSafe on three separate occasions.
His compensation payments were terminated in April 2023 after an investigation by WorkSafe confirmed the fraud.
The man, who has since repaid the full amount, pleaded guilty to a single charge of fraudulently obtaining payments, and a single charge of providing false or misleading information.
"It's really disappointing to see when someone knowingly accepts workers' compensation payments while already earning a full-time salary," said Return to Work Victoria Executive Director Jason Lardelli in a statement.
"Not only is it a crime, it's a breach of community trust to those who genuinely rely on the scheme while they can't work."
According to Lardelli, WorkSafe has beefed up its monitoring and compliance checks.
"Those who behave in this way will be caught, and they will face the full consequences of their actions," the director said.
WorkSafe Victoria is responsible for managing the state's workers' compensation system, ensuring that employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses receive appropriate benefits.
As outlined in WorkSafe's guide for injured workers, individuals are entitled to compensation if they are unable to work due to a work-related injury. To access weekly payments, injured workers must submit a certificate of capacity from their doctor, which certifies their inability to work.
In its latest annual report, WorkSafe Victoria revealed that there were 7.3 claims per million hours worked in 2023-24, up from 6.8 in 2022-23.
There were also 35,575 new claims during the period, up from the 32,780 claims in the previous year. Overall, WorkSafe said it made a total of $3.4 billion in scheme payments to support injured workers.
Source: WorkSafe Annual Report 2024
