Comcare is the scheme which provides workers’ compensation and occupational health and safety arrangements for Australian Government employees and for the employees of certain private corporations under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991.

Self insurance under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 allows employers to manage their own workers’ compensation responsibilities. Self-insurers under the Comcare scheme are subject to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991.

On 11 December 2007 the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, announced a moratorium on corporations joining the Comcare scheme. On the same date the Minister also announced a review of self-insurance arrangements under the Comcare scheme.

On 25 September 2009 the Minister announced a number of improvements to the Comcare scheme and released the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations' Report on the Comcare Review.

Background

The Minister released the Terms of Reference for the review on 23 January 2008 and further information was provided by the Department in the Background Information Paper.

 Submissions to the review closed on 29 February 2008 and are published on this website.