Navigating WorkCover claims for foreign-born Aussie workers Many Aussies know they can make a WorkCover claim if they are injured at work – but what about English as a Second Language (ESL) Australians? For many international-born workers, the idea of making a claim after a work injury can be daunting. In fact, many aren’t aware they are entitled to make a claim at all. Our client’s story In February 2024, our client, a 57-year old Vietnamese man, commenced full time work with a fencing company. As part of his daily duties, he was required to repeatedly handle and lift items weighing 20kg or more. With heavier items, other staff members were usually – but not always – able to assist him. In June of that year, he injured his lower back at work and had to take time off. Unfortunately though, his injury had not improved by mid-July and he remained unable to return to pre-injury duties. Since he was still new to the company, our client felt he was letting his employer down and was stressed that he would be fired. Unaware of his right to make a WorkCover claim and with limited English, our client resigned to avoid any further burden on the employer and alleviate his own stress. We met our client in August when he signed up with Arnold Thomas & Becker, and his WorkCover claim has been accepted. “I would not have resigned from my job if I had understood my rights earlier,” our client said. And sadly, this is the case for many of our Vietnamese and internationally born clients: they either do not know they can make a claim, or fear they will lose their jobs if they do. A common WorkCover myth Many people are understandably nervous about the idea of lodging a workers compensation claim with their employer, for fear it will be denied or they will be terminated. The truth is, an employer does not have the right to deny the lodgement of a workers compensation claim, nor they can fire someone for lodging one. For more information, visit our blog: Can an employer deny a workers compensation claim? No Win No Fee At Arnold Thomas & Becker, we operate on a No Win No Fee basis. We understand that our clients are coming to us under tough circumstances that often impact their financial position and their ability to earn money and continue to work. That should not mean that you are denied access to the right compensation and the benefits that you are entitled to under law simply because you cannot afford to access the legal system. For more information, visit our blog: Workers Comp myth busting: Costs Contact us We can help people from all different backgrounds achieve the compensation they are entitled to. Many of our lawyers speak second languages including Vietnamese, Mandarin, Arabic, Malayalam, Macedonian and Tagalog. If you’ve been injured at work, don’t be afraid to seek help making your WorkCover claim. Call us today on 1300 333 300 or send us a message at [email protected]