Worker charged over alleged $527,197 WorkCover fraud

A worker has been charged by WorkSafe Victoria with allegedly obtaining $527,197 in fraudulent workers compensation payments.

The worker, a 54-year-old Ararat woman, faces a total of 20 charges, including four charges under section 585(1) of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act for providing false or misleading information and eight charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception under section 82(1) of the Crimes Act.

It is alleged by WorkSafe Victoria that between December 2019 and December 2024 the worker received WorkCover payments into her bank and superannuation accounts totalling $527,197 — after failing to declare that she was working during this period.

The worker faces an additional eight charges for providing false or misleading declarations in breach of section 585(3)(d) of the WIRC Act.

It’s alleged that between December 2022 and October 2024 the worker submitted certificates of capacity that falsely declared that she had not worked.

Image credit: iStock.com/Anton Ilchanka. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.