Emergency service worker injury claims in Queensland, for physical, psychological, and repeated-exposure injuries on duty.

Two key time limits apply in Queensland. For a WorkCover statutory claim, you generally must lodge within six months of the injury (or the date you became aware of it). For a common law damages claim, court proceedings generally must be started before the three-year anniversary of the injury, with pre-court steps under the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (WCRA) commenced well before that. Late lodgement can sometimes be excused, but the safer course is to act quickly. Call us on 1300 529 529 to check your dates.

There are two tracks. The statutory (WorkCover) claim is a no-fault scheme that pays weekly wages, medical and rehabilitation costs, and a lump sum if you have a permanent impairment. The common law damages claim is a separate negligence claim against your employer (or another party) for the full loss caused by the injury. Past and future wage loss, future treatment, care and pain and suffering. Many workers run both: the statutory claim first, then a damages claim once the injury has stabilised. Call 1300 529 529 to talk through which tracks fit your circumstances.

Psychological injuries, including PTSD, anxiety and depression, can be covered if they arise out of or in the course of employment and employment is a significant contributing factor. Injuries arising out of or in the course of reasonable management action taken in a reasonable way, or the worker’s expectation or perception of it, are excluded. Evidence from a treating GP and psychologist or psychiatrist helps establish the diagnosis and work connection. Call 1300 529 529 to discuss your circumstances.

We act on a No Win No Fee* basis for work injury claims. That means you don’t pay our professional fees unless your claim succeeds. Whether outlays (medical reports, court filing fees, expert opinions) are payable if your claim doesn’t succeed depends on your costs agreement. Before we start, we give you a written costs agreement explaining everything in plain English so there are no surprises. Call 1300 529 529 for a no-obligation discussion of your matter.

It is unlawful for an employer to dismiss you because you have made or are about to make a workers’ compensation claim. The Fair Work Act 2009 protects you from adverse action for exercising a workplace right, and the WCRA protects your job for the first 12 months of incapacity in most cases. If you have been pushed out, demoted, or had hours cut after lodging, get advice quickly. Strict time limits apply to general protections claims (usually 21 days from dismissal). Call 1300 529 529.

Yes. Since 2021, Queensland has a statutory presumption that PTSD diagnosed in eligible first responders — including police, ambulance, fire and rescue, certain corrective services officers and some declared workers — is work-related, unless the insurer proves otherwise. That reverses the usual onus and makes the statutory claim path materially easier where the diagnosis fits the DSM-5 criteria. The presumption applies to the statutory claim; a common law damages claim still requires proof of negligence. Call 1300 529 529.

Yes. Paramedics, firefighters, police, SES and corrective services officers are workers under the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 and can claim WorkCover. Where a third party (a building owner, contractor or driver) caused or contributed to the incident, a common law claim runs in parallel. Psychological injuries from cumulative trauma are claimable; documentation and a treating practitioner report are usually needed.