Broker-arranged
WorkCover insurance in Victoria
In Victoria, WorkCover insurance is managed by WorkSafe Victoria. You must register once you pay more than $7,500 a year in rateable remuneration or hire any apprentice or trainee. Here is who must register, how the premium is set from the gazetted industry rates, the 2026/27 average rate, and how a licensed broker arranges it.
- The $7,500 registration threshold
- Average premium rate for 2026/27
- Arranged alongside your other covers
Who must register for WorkCover in Victoria?
WorkSafe Victoria says employers must register for WorkCover insurance if they employ workers who work in Victoria and their annual remuneration is more than $7,500, or is expected to be, or they employ apprentices or trainees. Special provisions apply to self-employed people and certain classes of contractors.
Register as soon as you expect to pass the threshold. WorkSafe has a premium guideline for employers who fail to register, so a late registration can cost more than a timely one.
The Victorian scheme at a glance
| Point | What applies |
|---|---|
| Regulator and insurer | WorkSafe Victoria, with policies managed through its agents |
| Who must register | Employers paying more than $7,500 a year in rateable remuneration, or expecting to, and anyone employing an apprentice or trainee |
| Premium | Based on your remuneration and the gazetted industry rate for your workplace’s classification, with claims costs adjusting larger employers |
| 2026/27 | The average premium rate is 1.8% of total remuneration, the percentage of Victorian employers’ remuneration needed to meet the cost of claims |
| Contractors | Some contractors are deemed workers and count towards remuneration |
| Other compulsory covers | Electricians and plumbers also need licence insurance in Victoria |
What workers compensation covers, and what it doesn’t
The scheme sets the benefits, not the insurer. Every scheme covers these in some form.
Usually covered
- Weekly payments while an injured worker can’t work.
- Medical, hospital and rehabilitation costs for a work-related injury or illness.
- Lump sums for permanent impairment, under the scheme’s rules.
- Injuries on the way to or from work, in some states and circumstances.
Usually not covered
- The business owner’s own injury, unless the scheme treats you as a worker. That’s income protection or personal accident cover.
- Injury to the public. That’s public liability.
- Fines for safety breaches.
- Contractors with their own cover, depending on how the scheme deems them.
What sets your Victorian premium
WorkSafe gazettes the industry and industry claim cost rates each year for every classification.
The 1.8% figure is the scheme-wide average, not a quote. A broker lodges your details and explains your rate.
How to get Victorian WorkCover through us
Victorian WorkCover questions
Is workers compensation compulsory in Victoria?
Yes, once you employ. WorkSafe Victoria requires registration once rateable remuneration passes $7,500 a year, or as soon as you employ an apprentice or trainee. Check the scheme’s threshold before you hire your first person, including apprentices and casuals.
Does a sole trader need workers compensation?
Not for yourself, in most schemes, because you aren’t your own employee. You need it once you employ someone. Your own income is protected by income protection or personal accident cover instead.
What is the WorkCover threshold in Victoria?
More than $7,500 a year in rateable remuneration, or expected remuneration. Employing any apprentice or trainee means you must register regardless.
What is the average WorkCover premium rate in Victoria for 2026/27?
WorkSafe Victoria says the average premium rate for 2026/27 is 1.8% of total remuneration. Your own rate depends on your industry classification and claims.
What happens if I don’t register for WorkCover in Victoria?
WorkSafe has a premium guideline for failing to register, so you can be charged for the period you should have been covered, and injured workers are still entitled to benefits.
Keep reading
More by state
Sources
- WorkSafe Victoria: Do I need to register for WorkCover insurance?
- WorkSafe Victoria: Overview of the scheme (average premium rate 2026/27)
- WorkSafe Victoria: Industry rates and key dates
- WorkSafe Victoria: Premium guideline, failure to register for WorkCover insurance
- business.gov.au: Types of business insurance
Victoria