NT Correctional officers welcome legislation amendment, granted ‘first responder’ status
Correctional officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder will no longer have to prove their PTSD is work-related when seeking compensation. See for details.
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Correctional officers will no longer have to prove their post-traumatic stress disorder is work related when seeking compensation, after the Territory government announced it would amend key legislation in the coming months.
On Thursday, Attorney General Chansey Paech announced the government planned to amend the Return to Work Regulations, with the definition of “first responder” to explicitly include correctional officers which would put them on the same level as police officers and firefighters.
Mr Paech confirmed work was underway to amend the legislation to make compensation claims easier for correctional officers.
“The Lawler Labor Government respects the important role our correctional officers have in ensuring the safe custody of prisoners in facilities across the NT, and acknowledges the challenging environment in which they work,” he said.
“These changes mean the onus is no longer on the officers to prove post-traumatic stress injuries are work related.”
Mr Paech said the Territory government would continue to assess legislation to ensure laws were “contemporary” and “fair”.
“Supporting correctional officers with fairer compensation measures for work-acquired injuries will accelerate access to treatment and recovery,” he said.
“We continue to review and modify legislation and regulations to ensure our laws are relevant, contemporary and fair.”
The announcement, expected to be effective by mid-year, follows the Lawler government’s announcement that correctional officers would receive $191 million part of the 2024 Budget.
NT United Workers Union secretary Erina Early welcomed the announcement as supporting correctional officers.
“This reform will greatly alleviate the significant emotional and psychological burden correctional officers’ face when trying to seek compensation.”
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