Hospital and healthcare worker injury claims in Queensland, for patient-lifting, sharps injuries, and workplace violence.

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.

Get medical attention and ask for a Work Capacity Certificate from your doctor. Report the incident to your employer in writing and make sure it is recorded in the workplace incident register. Take photos of the scene, the equipment involved and any visible injuries while things are fresh. Get the names and contact details of anyone who saw what happened. Keep copies of payslips, rosters and out-of-pocket receipts. Then call us on 1300 529 529 before you sign anything from WorkCover or the insurer.

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. Psychiatric injuries from chronic understaffing, occupational violence (patient assaults, verbal abuse), and workplace bullying are claimable in Queensland health and aged-care settings. Employment must be a significant contributing factor and the injury must be a diagnosed condition, not just stress. Hospitals and aged-care facilities owe a non-delegable duty to provide a safe system of work, including safe staffing ratios, security protocols and bullying-response procedures. Reasonable management action is excluded, but unreasonable conduct is not. Call 1300 529 529.

Yes. Sharps injuries, lifting and patient-handling injuries, exposure incidents and assaults during code-black or aggression events are compensable as workers’ compensation. Where the employer failed to provide safe systems, training, safe lifting equipment or de-escalation protocols, a common law claim runs in parallel. Bloodborne exposure claims include surveillance testing and treatment costs.