News & Media

If you are an exempt worker such as a police officer, firefighter, or paramedic, you may be eligible for a type of lump sum compensation called “pain and suffering”. It is no longer available to any other type of worker following the 2012 workers’ compensation scheme reforms. Lump sum compensation for pain and suffering is designed… Read More »Section 67 Pain and Suffering

Have you been injured in NSW and would like to claim in relation to that injury, but have moved states? Or do you live in QLD but travel into NSW for work and were injured onsite? Well, this is scenario that many people face and luckily for most it doesn’t matter where you live when… Read More »State of Origin: Why It’s an Issue if Parties are from Different States

When you suffer an injury, the biggest question in relation to your claim for personal injury (whether you are claiming workers compensation, making a motor accident claim, or claiming civil damages) is how your injury impacts your ability to work. If your injury is severe, you might not be able to work in the same… Read More »FAQs: Functional Capacity / Vocational Assessments

Work Injury Damages If you’ve had an injury at work, and it’s serious, you may be aware of the possibility of claiming work injury damages. If you’re not sure what work injury damages means or if it relates to you, head on over to this blog and (if you’re a Police Officer, Firefighter or Paramedic)… Read More »Work Injury Damages – Success Stories

Picture this: you’ve been injured at work. You make a claim for workers compensation which is accepted, and you start the long hard road to rehabilitation. All of your time, and energy, now goes toward attending doctor’s appointments, working through your pain and your trauma to rehabilitate and try (if it’s possible) to get back… Read More »How to claim Domestic Assistance for a work injury

How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer Dealing with a personal injury claim can be stressful, time consuming and confusing. It is therefore really important to find a personal injury lawyer to assist you with the process that you not only trust but can also easily talk to. When picking your lawyer you should look… Read More »What should you look for in a Personal Injury Lawyer?

If you and your insurer cannot resolve a dispute about the percentage of permanent impairment for your physical or psychological injury, your lawyer can file an application in the Personal Injury Commission (PIC) requesting an assessment by a Medical Assessor. Medical Assessors are highly qualified and experienced medical specialists who assess the level of permanent… Read More »I am going to a Medical Assessor. What should I expect?

Appointment Belt Giving You a Sore Back We hear it often.  You’re a Police Officer.  And you have a sore back. It’s definitely not uncommon. The heavy nature of the work Police Officers do can cause injuries to many body parts, not least of all, your lower back (lumbar spine). Rolling, wrestling, bending, twisting, lifting… Read More »Appointment belt giving you a sore back? Here’s what you can do

My employer wants me to use sick leave instead of making a claim Being unable to work because of a work injury is stressful enough, without your employer complicating matters. It can be a very confusing time, especially if your employer is being difficult and you have never dealt with the workers’ compensation system before.… Read More »My employer wants me to use sick leave instead of making a claim. What should I do?

Have you suffered a work injury and need medical treatment, but the insurer has told you that you are out of time to claim it? This is a scenario many injured workers face every year, but don’t be alarmed as there may be a way around it. The section of the Workers Compensation Act that… Read More »Need Treatment and Out of Time? Here is What you Need to Know

If you have a dispute with your workers’ compensation insurer that you have been unable to settle, your lawyer can file an application at the Personal Injury Commission (the PIC) to begin the legal process of resolving the dispute. The PIC is an independent tribunal which resolves disputes about workers’ compensation claims and motor vehicle accidents… Read More »What is the Personal Injury Commission?

Workplace injuries at Christmas Parties It’s that time of year – Christmas party season!  And whilst workplace Christmas parties are a great opportunity to bond with colleagues and have some fun after working hard all year, what should you do in the (unlikely but possible) event that things go wrong?    First things first.  Does… Read More »Ho Ho Oh No – Workplace injuries at Christmas Parties

In this podcast, Associate Melissa Arndell explains how IRO can help injured workers in New South Wales.

In this podcast, Senior Associate Jessica Prasser shares practical steps to take if your employer is pressuring you not to make a workers’ compensation claim.

Claiming Work Injury Damages as an Emergency Services Worker There is no such thing as a “common or garden” negligence case for an Emergency Services Worker. There are quite a few differences between the law that applies to each of the 3 Emergency Services (Police, Ambulance, Fire) because of the different nature of the roles… Read More »Dial 000 for Negligence: Claiming Work Injury Damages as an Emergency Services Worker

If you have suffered an injury, and your injury was caused by the negligence of somebody else, you may decide to make a claim for civil damages. If you’re making a claim for civil damages, you need to know what you can actually claim in order to properly prepare your case. What follows is a… Read More »Civil Damages – What Can I Claim?

There are some unfortunate cases where an injured worker chooses not to seek workers’ compensation out of fear that they might lose their job. In this podcast, Senior Associate Jessica Prasser explores this matter.

If you have a workers’ compensation claim in NSW, and you’re not an exempt worker, at some point during your claim, you will receive a Work Capacity Decision. A Work Capacity Decision will be sent to you in a letter from the insurer. If you’ve received one of these letters and you aren’t sure what… Read More »Received a Work Capacity Decision and not sure what to do? Read on.

It can be concerning and frustrating when you are waiting for your Workers’ Compensation Insurer to make a decision regarding your medical treatment.  You may feel like you’re stuck – you know you need the treatment to assist your recovery, but you cannot obtain it until you receive approval – or can you?  Medical treatment… Read More »Stuck in the waiting room? How long the Insurer can take to make a decision

In this podcast, Associate Melissa Arndell discusses the time limits in a workers’ compensation claim.

Have you suffered a knee injury at work Have you suffered a knee injury at work and now also have pain and discomfort in your other knee? You’re not alone. This is something that happens to many injured people. It’s usually caused by the person favouring or protecting their injured knee, which leads to them… Read More »Knees knocking? How hurting one knee can hurt the other knee too

When you make a claim for Work Injury Damages, you will need to participate in a compulsory Mediation conference before you can move on to the next stage of your claim. Reaching the Mediation is exciting, but nerve-wracking, we know. It’s often the first real opportunity that you have during the process of making a… Read More »My Case Is Going to Mediation. What Should I Expect?

When you have a claim for workers’ compensation, on occasion you will be involved in a dispute with the workers’ compensation insurer. A dispute could be over lots of different things. You and the insurer might disagree about whether the insurer should pay for surgery, or whether you are entitled to claim weekly payments for… Read More »My Case Is Going to Teleconference. What Should I Expect?

In this podcast, Senior Associate Jessica Prasser discusses how to get the most out of your first consultation with a compensation lawyer.

In this video, Associate Melissa Arndell talks about how police officers can claim compensation for injuries such as physical and psychological injuries.

In this video, Associate Melissa Arndell explores TPD claims and the possible entitlements.

In this video, Associate Lisa Robertson talks about medical examinations and how you can prepare for them.

In this video, Senior Associate Jessica Prasser talks about the important time limits in your NSW workers’ compensation.

What records should I keep about my injury? After you’ve sustained an injury, the last thing you feel like doing is sorting through piles of paperwork. Documents from the Insurer, your medical practitioners, receipts and the like may have you feeling overwhelmed. However, keeping thorough records is extremely important for your claim.   Injury documents… Read More »Ugh…paperwork! What records should I keep about my injury?

In this video, Bourke Legal Director and Personal Injury Lawyer Brendan Bourke shares how Bourke Legal can help injured police officers.

In this podcast, Bourke Legal Associate Melissa Arndell discusses how much can an injured worker receive from a workers’ compensation claim.

In this video, Bourke Legal Director and Personal Injury Lawyer, Pania Watt talks about how you can take care of yourself and your compensation claim.

In this video, Senior Associate Jessica Prasser discusses how long will your workers’ compensation claim take in New South Wales.

If you’re injured at work, it’s likely you’ll not only need immediate medical attention but also ongoing treatment to aid in your recovery and rehabilitation. Medical consultations can be expensive, particularly if your injury requires specialist treatment. It’s easy to quickly find yourself significantly out-of-pocket, despite the fact your injury may be covered under a… Read More »Why You Need to Keep Records to Recover Out-of-Pocket Expenses in Workers Compensation Matters (NSW)

In this podcast, Bourke Legal Associate Melissa Arndell answers the commonly asked question, “How Can an Injured Worker in NSW Afford Legal Advice?”

The NSW workers’ compensation scheme – and the legislation which supports it – is difficult to navigate at the best of times.  Not only is the legislation itself difficult to navigate, but different legislation applies to different classes of workers.  For example, Police officers, paramedics and firefighters are subject to different legislation to most. For… Read More »IRO and NSW Workers’ Compensation

If you’ve been injured in an accident and believe you may be entitled to compensation, it’s important you act as soon as possible. Each Australian state and territory has laws governing how long a person has to make a compensation claim. Generally, the time limit on action for compensation is three years from the date… Read More »Been Injured, Considering Compensation? Time May Be Running?

If You’re Injured in a Public Place in NSW Every year thousands of people experience a mishap in a public place that leads to injury, serious or otherwise. In many cases, compensation may be available to the injured person to cover the costs of medical treatment, lost income, pain and suffering, domestic assistance and other… Read More »What Should You Do If You’re Injured in a Public Place in NSW

For many of us, a serious workplace injury is one of the nightmare scenarios we dread most. Not only are you trying to recover from an injury, but you’re also losing income while you do so. How do you support your family and pay your medical bills if you can no longer work? TPD insurance… Read More »The Basics of Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Insurance Claims

How Workers’ Compensation Claims Work in NSW You were injured at work, you filed a workers’ compensation claim, and your claim has been approved. This is an important first step towards getting the compensation you deserve for your injury; but once your claim is approved, your work has only just begun. Workers’ compensation claims require ongoing… Read More »My Claim Has Been Approved! Now What? How Workers’ Compensation Claims Work in NSW

If You Have a Slip and Fall A slip and fall can happen anywhere, but often occurs in a public place like a shopping centre, supermarket, a restaurant, a pub, or a café. It’s easy to think that a slip and fall won’t cause significant injury, but that is often not the case. A slip… Read More »What To Do If You Have a Slip and Fall

In NSW, major changes were made to the workers compensation scheme in amendments to the Workers Compensation Act 1987 in 2012, and again in 2015. An “exempt worker” describes those classes of worker to whom these changes do not apply. An exempt worker, being a worker who is exempt from the amendments, is a person who is employed… Read More »What Does Exempt Worker mean?

5 hot tips to ensure you get the most out of your work related injury claim The NSW workers compensation scheme is complicated, particularly if you fall within the class of workers affected by the 2012 amendments to the Workers Compensation Act 1987. If you’re not sure whether this is you (a work related injury) or not,… Read More »Returning to work after a work related injury? Here’s 5 hot tips to ensure you get the most out of your claim.

Life insurance is a policy of insurance intended to protect you, and your family, from suffering financial difficulty after a certain event – for example, if you get sick, suffer an injury, or pass away. Types of Life Insurance 1. Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) insurance is to provide financial support to you if you suffer an injury… Read More »What is life insurance?

Whole Person Impairment If you have a claim for workers compensation, during your claim you may be asked to submit to an independent Medical Examination for the purpose of assessing your level of whole person impairment. Whole person impairment (“WPI”), is also referred to as permanent impairment. A whole person impairment assessment is an assessment… Read More »What is whole person impairment?

If you have a workers compensation claim, at some point it is very likely that the workers compensation insurer, or your solicitor, will ask you to submit to an Independent Medical Examination, or IME. At Bourke Legal, we see a lot of workers injured in NSW who tell us in their initial appointment, when asked… Read More »What does an Independent Medical Examination (IME) mean?

Total and Permanent Disablement claims or Critical Illness/Trauma Recently, our firm has become aware of organisations offering assistance to people suffering an injury or illness and seeking to claim on a policy of insurance they hold for Income Protection, Total and Permanent Disablement claims or Critical Illness/Trauma. These organisations will often describe themselves using terms… Read More »Total and Permanent Disability Claims – Beware! Beware of non-legally trained organisations offering help with your Income Protection or TPD claim.

Can an Employer be Sued for Negligence We often receive enquiries from injured workers asking whether they can sue their former employer in relation to their work related injuries. The short answer is yes, you can – but there are certain restrictions which apply. This type of claim is called a claim for Work Injury… Read More »Can You Sue Your Employer For Negligence?