• 1.1This Part applies in relation to services under subsection 4(1) of the Act.
  • 1.2Vocational support services provide Participants with individualised assistance to enable participation in employment and voluntary work. These necessary and reasonable services support a Participant to transition into, and sustain employment, where these needs are additional to the needs prior to the Motor Vehicle Injury and specifically required as a result of a person’s functional impairment.

For example, support to find paid work, consistent with the Participant’s abilities and needs, support to participate in the workplace, additional costs due to the Motor Vehicle Injury relating to travel to and from work and support to sustain employment.

  • 1.3The funding of vocational support (vocational pre-training, vocational training and retraining), will be considered where, in the opinion of the LSA, there is an evidence base that such support will enable Participants to benefit from socialisation associated with employment participation and to obtain or maintain employment.

  • 2.1Vocational support services enable a Participant, through a combined and coordinated use of services, to minimise the impact of their injuries on their employment or other work-related activity. In the first instance, vocational support services should focus on returning Participants to their original employment with their pre-injury employer/s.
  • 2.2Vocational support services are necessary and reasonable where:
    • 2.2.1there is an assessment and recommendation by an Appropriately Qualified provider;
    • 2.2.2the service has been agreed to by the Participant or Decision Maker or both, as the case may require, who was involved in the decision-making process and is willing to commit to the training program;
    • 2.2.3there is a defined, realistic vocational goal;
    • 2.2.4there are identifiable labour market opportunities on completion of the training; and
    • 2.2.5such support services increase the likelihood of a Participant retaining employment in their workplace.
  • 2.3Additional factors that the LSA may consider when determining necessary and reasonable support services include, but are not limited to:
    • 2.3.1the Participant’s pre-accident occupation or career status;
    • 2.3.2alternatives to pre-vocational, vocational training or retraining;
    • 2.3.3whether the training is provided by an accredited training organisation and recognised within the relevant industry;
    • 2.3.4the cost and duration of the training;
    • 2.3.5previous training expenses paid by the LSA for the Participant;
    • 2.3.6existing vocational support services that the Participant is able to access; and
    • 2.3.7whether similar costs would have been incurred by the Participant as an ordinary life expense regardless of their Motor Vehicle Injury.
  • 2.4With respect to training the LSA will pay for:
    • 2.4.1training course fees and compulsory student and administrative charges. Course fees will be payable on a semester-at-a-time basis. Payment of subsequent semester fees will be dependent on successful completion of previous semester course requirements;
    • 2.4.2compulsory textbooks and materials;
    • 2.4.3necessary and reasonable travel expenses to and from the approved training; and
    • 2.4.4training missed during an absence from tertiary/ vocational studies that is a result of the Motor Vehicle Injury.

  • 3.1The LSA will not pay for:
    • 3.1.1capital expenditure such as the costs of establishing and running a business;
    • 3.1.2services that the Participant was receiving prior to the Motor Vehicle Accident;
    • 3.1.3Assistive Technology that employers are required to provide to employees to meet Work Health and Safety requirements;
    • 3.1.4assistance to keep a business open, such as paying for temporary staff to do a Participant’s job;
    • 3.1.5wage subsidies to an employer;
    • 3.1.6standard furniture and other capital items associated with a Participant’s place of employment;
    • 3.1.7everyday living expenses associated with employment, such as clothing/ uniforms or lunches;
    • 3.1.8phone calls, photocopying, stationery, meals at training venues and all other expenses associated with training;
    • 3.1.9costs of training courses that the Participant had enrolled in or commenced prior to the injury;
    • 3.1.10training or other activities related to maintaining an existing qualification, licence, registration or accreditation once the qualification, licence, registration or accreditation has been obtained;
    • 3.1.11training that would be considered to form part of induction, ongoing skill maintenance or development that is within the responsibility of the employer or the Participant to maintain their employment; or
    • 3.1.12training associated with voluntary career changes or personal development.
  • 3.2The LSA will cease funding if:
    • 3.2.1the training or educational institution determines that the Participant is guilty of serious academic misconduct; or
    • 3.2.2the Participant fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the educational institution and the LSA.

Page last updated: 16 September 2022