Equipment list and contracted suppliers

About equipment

Equipment refers to items that are used to assist a worker's recovery following a work-related injury or illness.

Equipment items may address one or more of the following aspects of a worker's life.

• mobility
• function
• independence
• community involvement, through return to work, educational or leisure activities
• communication
• safety.

Equipment is recommended to a worker by a treating health practitioner on referral by a medical practitioner.

An allied health practitioner may recommend equipment related to their area of expertise and/or scope of treatment.

Equipment may also be recommended by a treating health practitioner to assist the worker’s safe discharge from an acute or rehabilitation hospital. A referral by a medical practitioner is not required for these equipment requests.

Supply of equipment

Standard items are provided by WorkSafe's contracted equipment suppliers. Standard items are:

• all items valued under $1,000 (excluding GST) supplied by a WorkSafe contracted equipment supplier
• items valued at over $1,000 (excluding GST) detailed on the WorkSafe contracted supplier equipment list.

With a valid prescription and quote, an agent can order standard items by sending an Equipment Order Form directly to the WorkSafe contracted equipment supplier.

Treating health professionals are able to recommend clinically justified equipment from WorkSafe's contracted equipment suppliers for items valued under $1,000 (excluding GST).

The WorkSafe contracted supplier equipment list

The WorkSafe contracted supplier equipment list (the list) has been developed for treating health professionals to use when recommending high-cost equipment, valued at over $1,000 (excluding GST). The list is designed to streamline processes for ordering high-cost equipment and ensure availability. This will result in less delays and improved outcomes for workers.

WorkSafe is committed to providing workers with equipment that meets their needs. The list is reviewed regularly with high-cost equipment items added, replaced or removed.

WorkSafe relies on feedback from treating health professional to ensure the relevancy of the list. To make suggestions or provide feedback on the list, email [email protected]

How to recommend items

Treating health practitioners are required to recommend items from WorkSafe's contracted equipment suppliers when treating a worker. It is expected that trials of items from WorkSafe's contracted equipment suppliers will occur in the first instance.

If the required item is not supplied by WorkSafe's contracted equipment suppliers and a suitable alternative cannot be provided by WorkSafe’s contracted equipment suppliers, then the treating health professional may recommend an item from a non-contracted supplier.

Clinical justification must be provided for why an item from a WorkSafe contracted supplier cannot meet the worker’s needs and why the recommended item is clinically reasonable and necessary.

For all equipment requests, an Equipment Prescription Form should be completed by the treating health professional and submitted to the relevant agent.

Recommendations for continence equipment must be completed by a qualified continence nurse or urologist. Continence equipment must be prescribed from the WorkSafe contracted supplier equipment list, regardless of value. The Continence Prescription (Community) Form must be completed and submitted to the relevant agent when ongoing supply is requested.

Supply of equipment

WorkSafe uses contracted suppliers to provide injured workers with clinically justified rehabilitation and medical equipment. These suppliers also offer maintenance, repairs and installation services.

Contracted suppliers provide state-wide equipment coverage as well as interstate coverage where required. Treating health professionals and injured workers are encouraged to visit contracted suppliers, as they offer demonstrations, fittings, trials and expert advice on rehabilitation equipment.

Non-contracted suppliers

Non-contracted suppliers can be used only when items from contracted suppliers are unable to meet the worker’s needs.

For queries regarding equipment purchasing for workers, email the WorkSafe Equipment Purchasing Team at [email protected]