Case 21

On 13 January 2010 the worker lodged a Notice of Claim for Damages stating that as a result of a workplace accident she had sustained injuries to her back, neck, both shoulders and sustained a psychological injury. As a result of her injuries, she stated that she was restricted by pain and that her injury had reduced her working hours to only one shift per week. The worker declared that her only source of income for the three years prior to her injury and since her injury was for her work as a Manager for various employers.

Investigations show that since 2006 the worker had a second job from which she had received income. The worker was charged with attempting to defraud WorkCover for failing to disclose her secondary employment and income as part of her common law claim and three counts of providing false and misleading information regarding her employment, income and capacity to work.

On 4 July 2011, the worker pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to three months wholly suspended for a period of two years. Costs were also awarded and a conviction recorded. Her common law rights were also extinguished.