Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2003/Work related injuries
Assistance is available for injured members
If you have suffered a work related injury or illness as a member of the Australian Defence Force, Reserves or a Cadet, you may be entitled to compensation under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act).
Under certain circumstances, you may also be entitled to other compensation under the military compensation scheme.
The Director of the Military Compensation and Rehabilitation Service (DMCRS) in the Department of Veterans' Affairs is responsible for the formulation of operational policy, provision of advice, training and a consultation service nationally for the Military Compensation and Rehabilitation Service function.
If your injury or illness can be linked to your ADF service and a claim for compensation and rehabilitation has been lodged and accepted, the Department may provide rehabilitation services if required.
What is Compensation?
When you are injured, or develop an illness that can be linked to your service in the ADF, you may be eligible to be compensated for that injury or illness. Compensation is commonly associated with a loss. If, due to your injury or illness you actually incur expense or lose income, or suffer functional impairment, your employer (the Commonwealth of Australia) is liable to compensate you for that loss.
What is Rehabilitation?
If you are injured or suffer an illness, the term used to get you 'back on your feet' is known as medical rehabilitation. Medical rehabilitation can be as simple as having 'physio on a sprained ankle', or as difficult as teaching you to walk again.
If as a consequence of injury or illness you can no longer do the same work, the process of assisting you to return to work is called vocational rehabilitation. The types and extent of your rehabilitation will depend on the nature and severity of your injury or illness.
Rehabilitation is generally provided by your Service medical organisation while you continue to serve. Upon discharge, medical or otherwise, your rehabilitation is provided by the Military Compensation and Rehabilitation Service located in Department of Veterans' Affairs offices in each capital city and Townsville.
For more information call the National Toll Free number 1300 550 461 or
visit the Department of Veterans' Affairs web site at http://www.dva.gov.au/adf
