WorkCover Incentive Scheme for Employers (WISE)

An injured worker can access WISE if they have a capacity for work and can work at least 15 hours per week and are able to complete the WISE placement before they reach retirement age.

Most employers can access WISE.  An employer offering a WISE placement must employ the worker under the same employment conditions as any other worker within the WISE workplace and provide a safe and healthy work environment. As well, payments made to a WISE employer as a wage subsidy are not intended to constitute the worker’s entire salary.

If certain criteria can be met, a WorkCover agent may allow a WISE placement at an employer who wishes to employ a family member. As well as considering whether the business has been established for at least 12 months and is financially viable, the WorkCover agent will also consider whether this is the most suitable employment option for the worker and whether any other suitable employment options can be found for the worker. 

Employers who cannot access to WISE

Employers who are labour hire companies, employment agencies or group training organisations and intend to on-hire the worker to another business and charge that business an amount in excess of what is paid directly to the worker cannot access WISE.  However, if these types of employers intend to directly employ and the pay the worker (i.e. not on-hire to another business), they may access WISE.

Workers who are Directors/Board Members of their own company cannot access WISE for themselves or a relative. WISE cannot be used to pursue self-employment. 

WISE Employer payments

The WorkCover agent makes the WISE payments on receiving and verifying relevant Employer Payment Request forms.  A WISE employer can receive up to $26,000 for a 12 month WISE placement payable.

  • At Week One, the Work Commencement (a variable fixed fee up to $2000 based on the hours nominated to be worked);
  • At Weeks 12 & 24, the Wage Subsidy (amounts based on worker’s weekly gross earnings up to a maximum amount of $20,000)
  • At Weeks 45 & 52, the Work Stability (a variable fixed fee up to $2000 based on the hours actually worked).

Injuries during a WISE placement

If the worker lodges a claim during a WISE placement, the WorkCover agent will determine which employer has liability for the claim (i.e. whether the injury is linked to the original claim or is it a new injury and a responsibility of the WISE employer).

Where a new or a recurrence of the original injury occurs then the WISE employer is responsible for paying the worker for the first 10 days of incapacity and $564 of medical expenses (indexed annually) unless they have a buyout option applying to their WorkCover insurance policy.  Any weekly payments made to the worker are based on pre-injury average weekly earnings paid by the WISE employer.  The claim is managed by WISE employer’s WorkCover agent but as WISE offers employers WorkCover Injury Insurance Protection, the claims costs are not included against the WISE employer for WorkCover insurance purposes.

If the injury is related to a continuing pre-WISE placement claim, any weekly benefit and/or medical and like service entitlement will be paid against that claim.  If the pre-WISE placement claim is managed by a different WorkCover agent to the WorkCover agent of the WISE employer, the worker must be told to forward all medical certificates and/or medical and like service invoices to that WorkCover agent. 

Further information and assistance

To find out more about the WISE program, a worker can contact their WorkCover Agent or their occupational rehabilitation provider or their union.

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