In short: If you are injured at work or in a transport accident in Victoria, your GP is central to your claim — they assess the injury, treat it, and issue the Certificate of Capacity that WorkSafe or the TAC needs. Reliance Care Medical Centre in Truganina manages both WorkCover and TAC claims, and has partnered with AusRehab for return-to-work support.
What is the difference between WorkCover and TAC?
They are two separate Victorian schemes, and which one applies depends on how you were injured.
- WorkCover covers injuries and illnesses that arise out of your employment. It is administered by WorkSafe Victoria through authorised insurance agents.
- TAC covers injuries from a transport accident in Victoria — car, motorcycle, bicycle, or as a pedestrian. It is run by the Transport Accident Commission and is a no-fault scheme, which means you can claim regardless of who caused the accident.
Both schemes generally pay for your medical treatment, and both can pay income support if your injury stops you working. In both cases the paperwork runs through your treating doctor, which is why the GP appointment matters as much as the claim form.
What does my GP actually do for my claim?
More than most people expect. Your GP is the treating practitioner on the claim, and that role continues for as long as the claim is open.
- Assess and diagnose the injury — including arranging imaging, pathology or referrals where needed
- Provide treatment and review how you are progressing
- Issue the Certificate of Capacity — the document that records your diagnosis and what work you can and cannot safely do
- Refer you on to physiotherapy, psychology or other allied health where appropriate
- Advise on suitable duties so your employer knows what you can manage during recovery
- Write reports requested by the insurer or agent
Your GP remains responsible for your medical care throughout. Nobody else on the claim — not the insurer, not a rehabilitation provider, not your employer — takes that over.
What is a Certificate of Capacity?
It is the standard Victorian form your treating doctor completes to support a WorkCover or TAC claim. It is not a simple "unfit for work" note.
The certificate records what you are diagnosed with, what treatment you are having, and — most importantly for your employer — what you can still do. That last part is what makes a graded return to work possible rather than an all-or-nothing decision.
A few practical points:
- The first certificate is usually issued at your initial consultation, once your GP has assessed the injury
- Certificates need renewing regularly, commonly around every four weeks, so book your review before the current one expires
- A gap in certificates can interrupt your income payments, so do not leave it to the last day
- Bring your claim number to each appointment if you have one
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Coming prepared saves a second visit.
- Your claim number, if a claim has already been lodged
- For a transport accident — the police report or accident details, and the date
- For a work injury — the date, how it happened, and whether you have reported it to your employer
- A list of your current medications
- Any previous scans, results or specialist letters relating to the injury
- A note of your symptoms and what movements or tasks aggravate them
- Details of what your job actually involves physically — this is what your GP needs to judge suitable duties
How does returning to work fit into recovery?
Returning to work in some capacity is usually part of recovery rather than something that waits until recovery is complete. Staying connected to work — even on reduced hours or modified duties — is generally better for both physical and mental recovery than a long period away.
That does not mean rushing. It means your GP, your employer and you agreeing on what you can safely do now, and reviewing it as you improve. A return-to-work plan typically sets out modified duties, reduced hours, or a graded increase back toward your normal role.
Where a return to work is complicated — a physically demanding job, a longer recovery, or an employer who needs help identifying suitable duties — a workplace rehabilitation provider can be brought in to coordinate it.
Working with AusRehab
Reliance Care Medical Centre has partnered with **AusRehab**, a recovery management provider that works with people returning to work after a workplace or motor vehicle injury.
Their team can coordinate the practical side of a return to work alongside your medical care:
- Workplace rehabilitation — return-to-work planning and liaison with your employer
- Functional capacity evaluation — structured assessment of what you can safely do, used to guide suitable duties
- Motor vehicle injury support — case management for people recovering after a transport accident
- Pre-employment screening — assessment of fitness for the physical requirements of a role, arranged through employers
This does not change who manages your health care. Your GP still treats you and still issues your Certificate of Capacity. If a referral to AusRehab would help with your claim, raise it at your next appointment and your GP can discuss whether it is appropriate for your situation.
What does it cost?
For accepted claims, treatment related to the injury is generally billed to the scheme rather than to you.
- TAC consultations are usually billed directly to the TAC, so there is normally no out-of-pocket cost for injury-related care
- WorkCover consultations are billed to the employer's insurance agent once the claim is accepted
- Before a claim is accepted, or for anything unrelated to the injury, normal billing applies — our standard bulk billing arrangements cover eligible Medicare services
If you are unsure where your claim stands, reception can talk through billing before your appointment. Costs and scheme rules change, so confirm current arrangements with us or with WorkSafe or the TAC directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a claim number before I see a GP?
No. You can and should see a GP as soon as practical after an injury — early assessment and treatment matters more than paperwork. Your GP can assess you and issue the first Certificate of Capacity, which is often what you need to lodge the claim in the first place.
Can my GP say I am fit for some work but not my normal duties?
Yes, and this is very common. The Certificate of Capacity is designed to record partial capacity — what you can safely do as well as what you cannot. That is what allows a graded return to modified duties rather than being off work entirely.
How often do I need a new Certificate of Capacity?
Certificates cover a set period and need renewing regularly, commonly around every four weeks. Book your review appointment before the current certificate expires, because a gap can interrupt income payments. Your GP will tell you when the next review is due.
Does TAC cover me if the accident was my fault?
Yes. The TAC is a no-fault scheme, so cover for a transport accident in Victoria does not depend on who was at fault. Fault can matter for other kinds of claims, but not for accessing TAC medical and income support.
What is a functional capacity evaluation?
It is a structured assessment of your physical tolerances and work capacity — what you can lift, carry, reach and sustain — carried out in a standardised way. The results help guide rehabilitation and give your employer objective information about suitable duties. Your GP can advise whether one would be useful in your case.
Who decides when I go back to work?
It is a shared decision, informed by your GP's assessment of your capacity. Your GP records what you can safely do; your employer identifies duties that fit within that; you have a say in how it is managed. A rehabilitation provider may help coordinate it where the return is complex.
How Reliance Medical Centre Can Help
Our GPs manage TAC and WorkCover claims from the initial assessment through to return to work, with physiotherapy, psychology and other allied health available at the same address in Truganina. To get started, book online or call us on (03) 9958 6699.
Trusted Sources for Further Reading
- WorkSafe Victoria — worksafe.vic.gov.au
- Transport Accident Commission — tac.vic.gov.au
- Healthdirect Australia — healthdirect.gov.au
- Better Health Channel — betterhealth.vic.gov.au
This article is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice. Scheme rules, certificate requirements and costs can change — please confirm current information with our clinic, WorkSafe Victoria or the TAC. If you have health concerns, please consult your GP.
