WorkSafe says it has “weeded out a new crop of compensation fraudsters” as it reveals it cracked down on 37 fraudulent claims worth a combined projected cost of $20.64 million in the last financial year.   

The Victorian workplace safety watchdog says 25 fraudsters were prosecuted on fraud-related matters, with the total cost of fines, restitution and other penalties at nearly $1 million.   

The largest restitution order for the year was made against a 58-year-old man, Geoffrey Glendinning, who alleged that he had been injured at work after hearing a “pop” in his hip.  

WorkSafe investigations revealed that Mr Glendinning had called an ambulance at least two times in the days before the alleged incident to help treat “stabbing hip and leg pain”.   

Mr Glendinning pleaded guilty to two charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception and a single charge of obtaining property by deception. He was placed on a two-year Community Corrections Order and forced to repay $143,982 for the compensation he received.  

WorkSafe Executive Director Insurance Roger Arnold says WorkSafe will continue to work hard to uncover and prosecute fraudsters who rort the system.  

“Fraud is proportionally very low within Victoria’s workers compensation scheme, but there’s always a shifty few who think they’ll get away with breaking the law,” Mr Arnold said.  

“While advances in technology continue to assist us in identifying these fraudsters, one of our best sources of information are people disgusted with the illegal behaviour – often it is a friend, family member, or colleague who gives us the information.”