If your workplace injury leaves lasting effects, the WorkCover notice of assessment tells the real story. It officially measures your permanent impairment and sets out the lump sum compensation you may receive in Queensland.
Many injured workers aren’t aware they can request their own assessment or challenge it if it doesn’t accurately reflect their condition. This is particularly crucial for serious injuries—which Safe Work reported numbered around 146,700 in 2024. Understanding the process is like studying the playbook before finals: it gives you a strategic edge and ensures you don’t leave points on the field.
What is a WorkCover Notice of Assessment?
When you suffer a workplace injury in Queensland, WorkCover Queensland or your employer’s self-insurer manages your claim under the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (WCRA). While weekly payments replace lost wages during recovery, a notice of assessment focuses on something different: permanent damage that won’t improve with further treatment.
The notice of assessment is the official evaluation of your permanent impairment. A qualified medical assessor examines you to determine whether your injury has stabilised and left lasting limitations. These assessments use the Guidelines for Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (GEPI), which is Queensland’s official standard. The GEPI is mostly based on the AMA5 Guides (Fifth Edition), but it has been adjusted to suit Queensland laws. If there is ever a conflict between the two, the GEPI is the one that applies.
The assessment measures:
- Physical limitations: How the injury affects movement, lifting, or physical tasks.
- Psychological impacts: Mental health conditions arising from the injury, including anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
- Functional capacity: Your ability to perform daily activities and work tasks compared to pre-injury levels.
- Permanence: Whether these limitations are here to stay, regardless of further treatment or rehab.
The assessor translates these limitations into a percentage figure representing your degree of permanent impairment. This percentage determines whether you qualify for lump sum compensation and how much you might receive. Without this notice, you cannot access permanent impairment compensation, even if your injuries are significant.
Why the Notice of Assessment matters
A WorkCover Notice of Assessment carries serious financial weight. Queensland’s scheme only pays lump sums for permanent impairment once the formal assessment confirms your entitlement—the higher your impairment, the bigger your payout.
But it’s not just about money. The assessment officially recognises your permanent limitations, supporting future employment, superannuation claims, and other legal matters. It creates a lasting record of how your injury has affected your physical or mental capacity.
Timing is critical. You can’t receive a notice until your condition stabilises—when further treatment won’t significantly improve your injury. Stabilisation can take months or even years, depending on the case. Miss the window, and you could forfeit substantial compensation—like missing a conversion kick that could have won the game.
Who can request a Notice of Assessment?
Both injured workers and insurers can initiate the assessment process.
You should consider requesting an assessment when:
- Your treating doctors confirm your condition has stabilised.
- You’ve completed all recommended rehab programs.
- You’re experiencing ongoing symptoms affecting daily life or work.
- Enough time has passed since the injury to show the permanence of your limitations.
Insurers can initiate assessments, often to confirm liability—but they don’t always act in your best interests. They might rush it before you’ve fully recovered or drag it out to limit your payout. We know this because we’ve been in their corner. Now, we’re all in for you, making sure your interests are safeguarded. Remember, you can request the assessment yourself—giving you control and protecting your claim.
The assessment process explained
Getting a WorkCover Notice of Assessment is a structured process. You or the insurer requests the assessment, specifying which injuries need evaluation, and multiple injuries can be assessed separately.
WorkCover or the self-insurer arranges an appointment with an approved medical assessor, who:
- reviews your medical history
- conducts a physical exam
- discusses symptoms
- checks all medical reports and specialist opinions.
The assessor then assigns a permanent impairment percentage.
Your notice shows your entitlement and appeal rights. It lists injuries and impairment percentages, using a combination formula for multiple injuries rather than simple addition:
- Whole person impairment reflects overall impact
- Specific assessments focus on individual body parts.
But what if you received a 0% impairment rating? That means no lump sum from WorkCover—but here’s the key point: you can still pursue a common law claim.
What if I disagree with the assessment?
You can challenge assessments that you believe understate your permanent impairment.
For injuries not assessed by the Medical Assessment Tribunal (MAT), you have 20 business days from receiving your Notice of Assessment to tell the insurer. You can:
- request a reassessment by another independent medical expert that you and the insurer agree on; or
- have the matter referred to the MAT.
Miss it, and you’ve effectively let the shot clock run out.
You should consider challenging if:
- The impairment percentage seems lower than what treating doctors indicated.
- The assessor overlooked injuries or symptoms.
- Critical medical evidence wasn’t considered.
- Your condition worsened before the report was issued.
The review involves a second, independent assessor. If the new assessment finds higher impairment, that becomes official. If it’s lower, the original stands—a built-in safety net. Legal representation improves your chances of success, ensuring all relevant evidence is presented.
Common mistakes workers make
- Arriving unprepared or without reviewing your medical history.
- Downplaying pain or limitations.
- Requesting assessment before stabilisation.
- Not challenging unfair assessments in time.
Failing to gather supporting medical evidence is another frequent error. Specialist reports, physiotherapy notes, and psychological assessments strengthen your case.
How assessment affects your compensation
Your WorkCover Notice of Assessment determines your lump sum payment. Here’s what you should know:
Under section 140 of the WCRA, the maximum statutory compensation is calculated by multiplying 216.15 by Queensland Ordinary Time Earnings (QOTE).
As of 1 July 2025, the QOTE is 1,953.70.
So, 216.15 x 1,953.70 = $422,292.26.
That equates to $4,222.92 per percentage point.
Now, under section 177 of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Regulation 2025 (WCRR), the lump sum compensation for a worker’s degree of permanent impairment (DPI) is calculated by multiplying the maximum statutory compensation by the worker’s DPI.
But here’s an important difference:
- Up to 30% impairment: Base amount per percentage point.
- Over 30% impairment: Base amount plus extra under Schedule 3 of the WCRR, capped at 216.15 × QOTE.
Example:
|
Item |
5% DPI | 50% DPI |
|
Maximum statutory compensation |
$422,292.26 | $422,292.26 |
| Calculation | $422,292.26 × 0.05 |
($422,292.26× 0.50) + (100.59 × QOTE) |
| Estimated Lump Sum Compensation | $21,114.61 |
$211,147.5 + $196,444.47 = $407,668.81 |
Higher impairment can also open the door to economic loss compensation for reduced future earning capacity and help support superannuation and disability claims, making sure your assessment truly reflects how your injury has affected you.
On top of that, if your DPI is 20% or higher, you can accept your lump sum and still go after a common law claim for damages—so you don’t miss out on any compensation you may be entitled to.
Case highlight
In Sankey v GPC Asia Pacific Pty Ltd [2022] QSC 213, a worker successfully extended the time to sue after WorkCover delayed issuing a Notice of Assessment. The Supreme Court confirmed that requesting an assessment before the three-year deadline is enough, even if the formal notice comes later.
What happened
The worker injured his back on 1 December 2016. His authorised representative requested a Notice of Assessment on 5 November 2019, before the three-year limit. WorkCover issued it on 22 September 2020. When the claim was filed on 16 July 2021, the employer argued it was time-barred.
Court findings
- Late assessment provision (Sch 5 s 1(1)(a)): This did not apply. For it to apply, the Notice of Assessment must be given less than 6 months before the end of the limitation period (between 1 June 2019 and 1 December 2019). The Notice issued in September 2020 came after the limitation period had already expired, so this provision could not help.
- Request before the deadline: The Court confirmed that a clear request, even by phone, is enough to trigger the six-month extension from the date the notice is issued.
Key takeaways
- Make a clear written request for a Notice of Assessment before the three-year limit.
- Exact legal terms aren’t required, but clarity matters.
- You get six months from when WorkCover issues the notice, even if delayed.
- Oral requests are legally valid and don’t need special legal wording. But they can be hard to prove if there’s a dispute. It’s always best to follow up in writing to have a clear record.
Maximising your assessment outcome
Preparation is key. Keep detailed records of symptoms, treatments, and functional limitations—your game tape showing the injury’s impact.
Also, recent specialist reports provide expert backing. Physiotherapists, psychologists, and occupational therapists can document functional capacity.
Effective strategies:
- Document symptoms and limitations over time.
- Obtain up-to-date specialist reports.
- Practice explaining daily life impacts.
- Bring a support person for assistance.
During the assessment, be honest and thorough—don’t exaggerate, but don’t downplay difficulties. Give the umpire all the facts for a fair call.
Moving forward after your assessment
Receiving your notice of assessment is a major milestone—but not necessarily the end. Once confirmed, you can pursue the corresponding lump sum payment. Don’t rush to settle; understand all entitlements and potential additional compensation, like economic loss.
If you successfully challenged your assessment, ensure WorkCover updates your payout accordingly. Accepting a lump sum doesn’t stop you from claiming reasonable medical expenses or seeking further support if your condition deteriorates. The assessment provides closure and acknowledges the permanent impact, giving you financial security to move forward.
We champion Queenslanders
At accident legal, we’re 100% for Queenslanders. Think of us as your champion legal team—boots and all—guiding you through the rough and tumble of WorkCover assessments. We know the insurer playbook inside out because we’ve played on their side for decades. Now, every tactic, every trick, every loophole works for you.
Wherever you are—at home, in the kitchen, or in hospital—we’re right there with you. We handle the strategy, gather the evidence, and fight for a fair impairment rating so your permanent injury is properly recognised. From timing your assessment request to challenging an unfair outcome, we cover every step of the claim, making sure you don’t leave points on the field.
If something’s gone wrong at work, call us or send us a message to get a team that’s all in for you.