Safe Work data shows that mental health is having biggest toll

Safe Work Australia has published a snapshot of COVID-19 related workers’ compensation claims data to 31 July 2020, which shows that, within the education and training employment category (into which early childhood education and care (ECEC) falls), mental health claims far exceed claims for any other type of compensation. 

Within the report, data is provided by claim type, industry, occupation, age, gender and jurisdiction. 

Key findings show that as at 31 July 2020:

• 533 workers’ compensation claims related to COVID-19 were lodged in Australia
• 253 claims submitted have been accepted
• 95 have been rejected 

• 185 are pending
• 34 per cent of these claims related to mental health impacts of COVID-19
• The ‘community and personal service workers’ occupation had the highest number of workers’ compensation claims.

The data has been collected from the relevant Commonwealth, state and territory workers’ compensation authorities, and the snapshot shows that claims in New South Wales far exceeded claims made in any other state. 

NSW employees made nearly 300 claims, with the next highest number of claims coming from those working in Victoria, with 75 claims, and Queesnland in third place with 68.  

Mental health claims were much higher in women (19 per cent) than in men (7 per cent), and in the education and training sector, of the 28 claims made, more than 20 related to the mental health impact of working whilst the pandemic took place.