Physical injury claims
- Manual handling injuries — patient transfers, repositioning, falls catches; most common nurse injury
- Needlestick and sharps injuries — infection-risk claims even without seroconversion
- Slip and fall — wet floors, congested wards
- Patient assault — particularly mental health, ED, and aged care settings
- Vehicle incidents (paramedics) — emergency driving, ambulance crashes
Mental health and PTSD
Healthcare work carries high rates of psychological injury. Common patterns:
- PTSD from cumulative trauma exposure (paramedics, ED nurses, mental health staff)
- Vicarious trauma in mental health and child protection work
- Burnout / major depression from sustained workload
- Acute stress reactions after critical incidents
Several states have presumptive PTSD provisions for paramedics and other emergency workers — see our PTSD compensation guide.
Infectious disease and exposure
Workers compensation covers infectious diseases acquired in the course of healthcare work. COVID-19, HIV/HCV/HBV exposures from needlestick injuries, tuberculosis and other workplace-acquired infections are all compensable. Some states have presumptive provisions for specific diseases.
TPD through HESTA / AustralianSuper
Most healthcare workers hold super through HESTA (the industry fund for health and community services) or AustralianSuper. Where injury or illness permanently prevents return to nursing / clinical work, TPD claims commonly succeed even where alternative non-clinical work is theoretically possible.
See our HESTA TPD guide.
Free claim assessment A specialist will assess your situation in a no-obligation 15-minute call →