Business unit specific terms
Content Strategy will develop this section further with terms used in each business unit and when which term applies.
If you have a term that you want to add from your business unit, please get in touch with us and we will review your suggestion.
- RTWV
Claims
Use (context) Convention Notes Certificate of capacity Lower case cs as standard WIRC Act 2013 references ‘certificate of capacity’ Workers compensation insurance, registration or cover No ‘ after workers compensation as per s3 of WIRC Act 2013 Add ‘ only if referring to a specific group of workers - Advisory
Use (context) Convention Notes WorkSafe Advisory
Apply Title Casing (upper case WS A)
Do not use WorkSafe Advisory Service (or variations)
WorkSafe speak
The terms, conventions and styles that give WorkSafe its voice. Applying Australian Government standards to our environment.
Contacting WorkSafe
Use ‘call’ if telephone is the only option.
Example:
For more information call WorkSafe Advisory on 1800 xxx xxx.
Use ‘contact’ if telephone and email.
Example:
Contact WorkSafe Victoria by calling xxx xxx or email [email protected]
Correspondence
We use Given name and Family name, not first and last name.
| Type of correspondence | Use (context) | Convention/note |
Salutation = Dear Given name, Body = as applicable. Sign-off = Warm regards, as default. Alternative sign-off = Regards, alternative where 'Warm regards' is considered unsuitable for tone of email intent. | Add comma after Given name, Add comma after Warm regards, / Regards, Sign-off is used where email is attributed to person, WorkSafe division/ branch, person and WSV division/ branch, or singularly WorkSafe.
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| Letter | Add comma after Given name / add comma after Yours sincerely
In body content: adopt WorkSafe Victoria in full for first use, shorten to WorkSafe thereafter as applicable.
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| SMS | Salutation = Hi given name, WorkSafe here. Body = relevant info Sign-off = Do not reply by SMS. |
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Collection statements
If your content is used to collect personal information/data, you will need a 'collection statement.'
Contact Content Strategy and the Privacy team in Corporate Legal for help.
In general, the law states we need to take reasonable steps to make sure individuals are aware of 6 things when collecting personal information.
- The organisation’s identity and contact details.
- The fact that the individual can gain access to the information.
- The purpose for which the information is collected.
- The persons or entities to which information of that kind is usually disclosed.
- Any law that required the information to be collected.
- The main consequences, if any, for the person if all or part of the information is not provided.
Translations
| Use (context) | Convention | Notes |
Translated information If you would like support from an interpreter, you can contact us using the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National). If you are deaf or find it hard hearing or speaking with people who use a phone, you can contact us using the National Relay Service.
| For print content: If you would like support from an interpreter, you can contact us using the Translating and Interpreting Service. Visit the Translating and Interpreting Service website: www.tisnational.gov.au/en/Non-English-speakers/Available-services If you are deaf or find it hard hearing or speaking with people who use a phone, you can contact us using the National Relay Service. Visit the National Relay Service website: www.accesshub.gov.au/about-the-nrs
| Logo to be inserted at left of content.
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Other design elements
Fonts
All Victorian Government agencies use the VIC font. The font is free and can be downloaded on the Vic Government website.
For print material, we use Neue Haas Grotesk. You can contact the brand team for more information.
Style elements
For a full list of style elements, you can go to the Australian Government Style Manual.
Simpler word substitutions
https://www.plainenglish.co.uk/the-a-z-of-alternative-words.html
Referencing WorkSafe
Our organisation has had a number of different names and was known by various acronyms (WorkCover, Victorian WorkCover Authority/VWA and even WorkCare).
Our trading name is WorkSafe Victoria or WorkSafe and these should always be used. When referring to WorkSafe use ‘WorkSafe Victoria’ in the first instance and WorkSafe after.
Make sure there is a capital ‘S’ in WorkSafe.
Use Victorian WorkCover Authority only when quoting directly from legislation.
WorkSafe acronyms
General WorkSafe
A collection of commonly used words, terms and acronyms across WorkSafe.
Acronyms and initialisms
Acronyms are made up of the initial letter of the words in a term and are pronounced as a word, for example Qantas or TAFE.
Initialisms are made up of the initial letters of the words in a term and are pronounced as letters, not a word. For example, NDIS or GST.
Write the full term the first time and follow with the shortened term in parentheses. Only use the shortened term if it is used again.
ABS
Australian Bureau of Statistics
ACA
Accident Compensation Act 1985 (VIC)
ACCtion
Accident Compensation Commission Transaction Information Online Network
System used by WorkSafe and agents for the management of claims and premium.
AMA
Australian Medical Association
Peak body that represents medical professionals in Australia.
ANZSIC
Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification
ANZSIC codes are developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for various purposes such as collating and comparing industry data. The premium division uses ANZSIC codes as a guide and comparison to WorkSafe Victoria’s Workplace Industry Codes.
APA
Annual Performance Adjustment
The incentive mechanism within the Agent remuneration model designed to align Agents with WorkSafe’s goals of improving return to work, service and maintaining Scheme sustainability.
APRA
Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority
An independent statutory authority established by the Australian Government to supervises institutions across banking, superannuation and insurance.
AQF
Australian Qualifications Framework
A national policy for regulated qualifications in the education and training system.
ASIC
Australian Securities and Investments Commission
A government regulator that enforces legislation in respect to companies and can provide information on directors, shareholders and the status of the company.
AWE
Average Weekly Earnings
Average Weekly Earnings statistics represent average gross (before tax) earnings of employees and do not relate to average award rates or to the earnings of the ‘average person’. Estimates of average weekly earnings are derived by dividing estimates of weekly total earnings by estimates of number of employees.
B@W
Back at Work
Measure used when discussing return to work by injured workers.
CALD
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse
CPSU
Community & Public Sector Union
Comcare
Commonwealth Care
Agency responsible for workplace safety, rehabilitation and compensation in the jurisdiction of the Australian Commonwealth (i.e. Federal) Government.
CRM
Customer Relationship Management
DG
Dangerous Goods
DWG
Designated Work Groups
This group has a management representative responsible for OHS issues and tasks specific to the geographical location.
EA
Enterprise Agreement
The agreement made between WorkSafe and unions which incorporates all terms and conditions of employment.
EEO
Equal Employment Opportunity
Ensuring workplaces are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.
EPMO
Enterprise Portfolio Management Office
The division provides an organisational wide (portfolio) overview of projects for the Executive and Board.
EG
Enforcement Group
WorkSafe branch responsible for detecting and dealing with breaches of Occupational Health and Safety and Compensation legislation.
ELT
Executive Leadership Team
Consists of the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Director of each business unit.
EOS
Employee Opinion Survey
Survey conducted annually to assess the organisation’s culture climate.
ED
Executive Director
The Executive Director of a WorkSafe business unit.
FOI
Freedom of Information
Requests for information that can be made by any stakeholders under the Freedom of Information Act.
FWC
Fair Work Commission
Australia’s national workplace relations tribunal, responsible for administering the provisions of the Fair Work Act.
HSR
Health and Safety Representative
An employee elected by fellow employees, who are members of a designated work group, to represent their health and safety interests to the employer. The HSR has powers, functions and protections in the role but does not have any duties attached to the performance of the role.
IB
Impairment Benefits
A type of compensation paid to injured workers.
IME
Independent Medical Examiner
A service provider specifically approved by WorkSafe to undertake a medical examination under s112 of the Act.
IMF
Intelligence Management Function
A team specialising in data and analytics.
IRV
Industrial Relations Victoria
Government agency responsible for developing industrial relations policy and initiatives in Victoria.
ISCRR
Institute for Safety Compensation and Recovery Research
Established in April 2009, is a joint venture between WorkSafe Victoria, the TAC and Monash University and undertakes research in workplace injury and illness prevention, compensation practice, health and vocational rehabilitation.
IMA
Injury Management Adviser
A person who will develop and promote injury management strategies and will provide coaching and advice to case managers regarding treatment and return to work issues enabling effective claims strategies to be implemented on all high risk claims.
KPI
Key Performance Indicator
Indicators used to measure the success of programs or projects.
MI
Mental Injury
Occupationally acquired mental injury.
MOU
Memorandum of Understanding
A non-binding agreement used to establish mutual goals and expectations and set out the rights and obligations of each party. WorkSafe has a number of MOUs with other government bodies publicly available on the website.
OR
Occupational Rehabilitation
Services provided by approved Occupational Rehabilitation providers to help injured workers get back to work at a level appropriate to their current capacity. These include workplace assessments, vocational assessments and advice concerning job modifications.
PBS
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Medicines subsidised by the Australian Government.
PIAWE
Pre-Injury Average Weekly Earnings
This amount is the average weekly earnings of the worker for the previous 12 months or less if employed continuously by the same employer for that period. This includes commuted allowances paid in lieu of overtime which are not dependent on performance of specific duties or work to be earned.
PIEF
Personal Injury Education Foundation
The foundation provides educational programs, initiatives and events to develop the personal injury management skills of those working in the accident compensation industry. It was established by a consortium of Australian and New Zealand accident compensation regulators, insurers and claims management organisations.
PIN
Provisional Improvement Notice
Issued by Health & Safety Representatives, may be affirmed, affirmed with modification, or overturned by an inspector.
PXC
People Experience Centre
First point of contact for all HR advice and support, spanning across the employee lifecycle, including talent acquisition queries.
RTO
Registered Training Organisation
A training provider registered to deliver vocational education and training services.
RACGP
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
A professional association for general practitioners.
RANZCP
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
A professional association for psychiatrists.
RTW
Return to Work
Maintenance at, or, return to, suitable and meaningful employment.
SLT
Senior Leadership Team
The team of senior managers reporting to an executive director.
SLA
Service Level Agreement
An agreement between a service provider and a customer that describes the level of service that will be provided.
TAC
Transport Accident Commission
An organisation that covers accidents directly caused by the driving of a car, motorcycle, bus, train or tram. It pays benefits to people injured in an accident as a driver, passenger, pedestrian, motorcyclist or cyclist.
THP
Treating Health Practitioner
The current health practitioner treating an injured worker, e.g. doctor, physio therapist, chiropractor.
VET
Vocational Education and Training
A training course that focuses on providing practical skills for work, typically delivered by an RTO.
VO
Victorian Ombudsman
An independent statutory office holder whose role is to investigate complaints about administrative actions and decisions taken by State government departments and authorities, including universities.
VCAT
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Hears appeals against WorkSafe’s decisions.
VPCS
Victorian Premium Collection System
The system used to collect premiums from employers.
VPS
Victorian Public Service
The Victorian Government’s services as a whole.
VRQA
Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority
Victoria's education and training regulator.
WAC
WorkCover Advisory Committee
Advises the Board on prevention, compensation, rehabilitation and return-to-work issues. The Committee makes inquiries and then reports to the Board on all elements of the WorkCover scheme.
WSDoM
WorkSafe’s Document Management
Software system for managing files. It is vital to ensure that if you receive a file, or hand one to someone else, that you arrange for the file handover to be recorded on WSDoM, so we know who's got it.
WCIRS
Workers Compensation Independent Review Service
The unit responsible for reviewing Agent decisions or non-decisions as part of an internal review process upon application by a worker and/or their representative.
WIRC
Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013
An Act that provides a single gateway for claims of compensation, provides for accident compensation, registration of employers for WorkCover insurance, and administration of WorkCover premiums.
State Government department abbreviations
Premier and Cabinet (DPC)
Government Services (DGS)
Treasury and Finance (DTF)
Education (DE)
Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)
Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)
Health (DH)
Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR)
Justice and Community Safety (DJCS)
Transport and Planning (DTP)