Former Victoria Police sergeant says new WorkCover laws will leave injured workers at risk of suicide

A former Victoria Police sergeant living with PTSD from his time on the force fears that controversial changes to the WorkCover scheme could put injured workers at risk of suicide.

A former sergeant who suffers from PTSD from his time in the force fears the new WorkCover laws will leave injured Victorians at risk of suicide.

The controversial changes to the workers’ compensation scheme including new whole person impairment requirements were introduced in March last year.

The overhaul meant that injured workers must reach a WPI of more than 21 per cent to continue to receive weekly payments after 130 weeks.

A former sergeant who suffers from PTSD from his time in the force fears the new WorkCover laws will leave injured Victorians at risk of suicide. Picture: File Image

But 18-months on, claimants and lawyers say the “broken” scheme is putting a strain on already vulnerable Victorians.

A former Victoria Police officer, who asked not to be named, told the Herald Sun he felt “abandoned” by the system when he recently retired after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The man, who served for more than 35 years, said he suffered from extremely high anxiety, sleeping difficulties, depression and exhaustion.

“In the early days of my career you were not offered support services when you had dealt with cases of suicide, deaths or serious injuries when attending vehicle collisions or critical incidents,” he said.

The controversial changes to the workers compensation scheme were introduced in March last year. Picture: Diego Fedele

“You might be lucky if your supervisor asked if you were ok but that was about it.

“You were then directed to get back onto the divisional van and continue your patrol duties.”

The retired sergeant’s WorkCover Injury Claim was approved in 2023 where he underwent his 130 week assessment in February this year.

Shockingly, his WPI was calculated at 20 per cent – just 1 per cent under the threshold.

The man then began the lengthy process of appealing the decision.

“I felt gutted and abandoned by the WorkCover system and Victoria Police seeing that I was a police officer for more than 35 years and served the Victorian community to the best of my ability,” he said.

“My immediate thoughts were how am I going to support my family without an income stream.”

The man said he was concerned the overhaul would push people to take their own lives.

“I gave my assurances to my medical practitioners that I would not take my own life,” he said.

“But understand why this process could cause suicides by members, having no ability to provide for your family.”

The retired sergeant’s WPI was eventually reassessed at 25 per cent, allowing his weekly payments to continue after 130 weeks.

The sergeant said he felt “abandoned” by the system. Picture: Supplied

“The WorkCover process is designed to make it difficult for claimants in the hope that they withdraw or opt out their claim,” he said.

Allanah Goodwin from Arnold Thomas and Becker lawyers said the system was “failing the very people it was designed to protect”.

“Sadly the story of this police officer is not unique. It is a warning. The WorkCover system is broken,” she said.

“It is unfair to hear of so many cases of individuals who have spent their whole life working, to then suffer an injury at work and become reliant on the weekly payments from WorkCover to survive, to then be at risk of having these payments cut off.

“It’s a situation which puts these individuals in serious financial hardship and under acute stress.”

It is understood the scheme’s changes will undergo an independent statutory review in 2027.

A WorkSafe spokeswoman said: “WorkSafe is committed to giving injured workers, including members of the police force, the best chance of recovery and return to safe and sustainable work.”

“WorkSafe prioritises early and regular engagement with injured workers before any decision about their access to ongoing entitlements, and offers tailored transition support – such as occupational rehabilitation, psychosocial support, training or connecting them with suitable employment opportunities.”