Injury travelling to, from or for work

Not all work-related injuries happen at a worker’s main place of work. Depending on the situation, a worker may still be eligible for compensation.

A worker may be injured:

• travelling between their home and place of work
• on their way to or from training relating to work
• travelling to or from medical or rehabilitation treatment that is part of an existing workers’ compensation claim
• travelling between jobs with separate employers
• while travelling for work-related reasons (i.e. a work conference or meeting) locally, interstate or internationally.

Eligibility to claim

To be compensated, a worker needs to have started their journey without any major delays or deviations and be travelling directly between their home and workplace or trade, technical, or other training school (or other location as outlined above).

If a worker’s injury happens at their home, they’re not considered to have started their journey and won’t be able to be compensated. This is supported by the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003.

If a worker is travelling outside their normal work location (i.e. inter-city, interstate or overseas), for work-related reasons, their employment must be a significant contributing factor to their injury. If a worker makes a claim, their insurer will look at the individual situation.