A significant legislative update affecting retailers in Victoria could soon impact how your business manages workplace injuries.
In March 2025, the Victorian Government introduced the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill 2025. If passed, this Bill will strengthen protections for injured workers and impose new obligations on businesses, particularly around the role of Return-to-Work (RTW) Coordinators.
Current Requirements for RTW Coordinators in Victoria
Under the current Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, your business must appoint a Return-to-Work (RTW) Coordinator if you:
- Employ 100 or more workers, or
- Pay $2.895 million or more annually in rateable remuneration (this figure is indexed).
Even if your business doesn’t meet these thresholds, having an RTW Coordinator is recommended best practice, particularly for managing complex or prolonged injury cases.
The RTW Coordinator currently must:
- Hold a senior enough role to manage RTW responsibilities effectively.
- Have relevant experience or knowledge to competently carry out their role.
Formal training, while strongly recommended by WorkSafe Victoria, is not currently mandatory.
What Changes Could be Coming?
If the Amendment Bill is passed, businesses required to appoint a RTW Coordinator will face new, enforceable obligations:
- Mandatory Training or Qualification (Section 106A)
- RTW Coordinators must complete approved training within a set timeframe or hold an approved qualification unless there is a reasonable excuse.
- Paid Training Support (Section 106D)
- Businesses must allow paid leave for RTW Coordinators to complete training.
- Training conducted outside of normal working hours must be compensated.
- Businesses must cover the full cost of training.
- Provision of Adequate Resources (Section 106E)
- Employers must supply RTW Coordinators with appropriate tools, systems, and assistance necessary to perform their duties effectively.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Significant penalties could apply if your business fails to meet these obligations:
- Individuals: Up to 120 penalty units (approximately $118,512).
- Corporations: Up to 600 penalty units (approximately $592,560).
Penalties apply per breach, with each penalty unit valued at $987.60 (as at 1 July 2024).
Next Steps for Retailers
While this Bill is still under consideration, it is essential for Victorian retailers to be proactive:
- Review your current RTW arrangements and assess compliance.
- Plan for potential mandatory training and resource requirements.
- Stay informed on legislative updates to ensure you remain compliant.
Access the draft Bill and further information
The Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced in the Victorian Parliament on 4 March 2025. You can access the bill’s introduction and first reading in the Hansard transcript here: Parliament of VictoriaParliament of Victoria
For the most up-to-date information and access to the bill’s text, please refer to the official Parliament of Victoria website: Parliament of Victoria
Disclaimer
The material within this update is provided for general information and educational purposes in summary form on topics that are current when it is first published. The content does not constitute legal advice or recommendations and should not be relied upon as such.
