A new compensation scheme for medically retired Western Australia Police officers and Aboriginal Police Liaison officers has been announced.
The scheme, which will be implemented by amending the Police Act, will fill the gap in conditions of employment if officers suffer a work-related illness or injury and can no longer serve.
Currently, the medically retired officers are not entitled to receive a prescribed lump sum benefit.
Under the new scheme, medically retired officers will be entitled to a prescribed exit payment, capped at $235,971, and a prescribed payment of $16,518 for vocational support and retraining.
In addition, all current in-service and post-service entitlements for work-related and non-work related illness or injury will be maintained.
Minister for Police, Michelle Roberts said the new scheme recognised that police compensation could not simply be resolved by extending workers compensation fully to sworn officers, as this would reduce the entitlements they currently received.
“Policing is demanding; it is stressful; it is complex and unpredictable, and sometimes dangerous,” Ms Roberts said.
“The toll of service can be psychological and physical, and borne by both our officers and their families.”
She said the new compensation scheme was being implemented with all current in-service and post-service entitlements for work-related and non-work related injury and illness being maintained.
