Embrace Self-Insurance: In opting for self-insurance, your organization assumes the management of its own workers' compensation claims, handling associated costs and risks. As a self-insurer, you undertake distinct employer and insurer roles.

Similar to coverage under WorkCover, self-insurance:

• Encourages enhanced injury prevention and rehabilitation efforts.
• Ensures equitable treatment for workers.
• Contributes to continual enhancement of health, safety, and return-to-work practices.

Am I eligible to become a self-insurer?

Determining eligibility for a self-insurance license is overseen by the Workers’ Compensation Regulator, focusing on both single and group employers.

Eligibility criteria include:

1. Employing over 2,000 full-time workers in Queensland.
2. Demonstrating satisfactory occupational health and safety (OHS) performance.
3. Maintaining re-insurance cover.
4. Having rehabilitation and return to work coordinators based in Queensland.
5. Establishing a workplace rehabilitation policy and procedure.
6. Meeting minimum financial strength and capability requirements.
7. Allocating resources for claim and rehabilitation management based in Queensland.
8. Ability to provide claim-related information.

Group employer licenses are limited to:

1. All related bodies corporate employing workers.
2. Employers in the same industry with a pre-existing, stable business relationship.

The comprehensive self-insurance criteria are outlined in the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003.

For a detailed guide on meeting legislative standards, refer to the Self-insurer performance and compliance framework (PDF, 0.72 MB).

Understand the regulatory approach through the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 Compliance and Enforcement Policy (PDF, 0.57 MB).

Applying for self-insurance

To initiate the application process, contact Workers’ Compensation Regulatory Services at InsurerServices@oir.qld.gov.au for guidance on requirements and application submission. Note that a non-refundable application fee is applicable.

Once submitted, the Workers’ Compensation Regulator has six months to decide on your application.

Responsibilities

Upon obtaining a self-insurer license, responsibilities include:

1. Assuming liability for outstanding WorkCover claims predating the license.
2. Paying the annual levy.
3. Managing workers’ compensation claims.
4. Resourcing and overseeing workplace rehabilitation.
5. Maintaining acceptable workplace health and safety systems and resources.
6. Providing quality data.
7. Contributing financial and management resources to ensure compliance with legislation and license conditions.
8. Providing annual actuarial reports.
9. Sustaining bank guarantees and re-insurance.
10. Renewing the license at least 90 days before its expiration.

Mandatory work health and safety audit process

As part of the application, a work health and safety performance report is required, involving:

Step 1: Workplace Health and Safety Queensland reviews compliance with legislation, identifying any recent enforcement activity or prosecutions.

Step 2: Nominate an accredited third-party work health and safety auditor (self-insurance) for an OHS assessment using the National self-insurer OHS management system audit tool (PDF, 6.62 MB). Choose an auditor from the register of accredited work health and safety auditors (self-insurance).

Fees and charges

Being a self-insurer involves fees for applications, annual levies, and reports, as well as specific charges for work health and safety auditor (self-insurance) application and accreditation fees.