AFP workers comp
Comcare, the SRC Act and PTSD cover

AFP employees are covered by the Commonwealth scheme: the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (the SRC Act), run by Comcare. The AFP pays Comcare a premium and Comcare decides claims. We found no sign that the AFP holds its own self-insurance licence.

That's true wherever you work. National operations, ACT Policing, PSOs at airports and Defence sites, and unsworn staff are all "AFP employees" under the AFP Act 1979, and the SRC Act names AFP employees directly.

The AFP's health program, SHIELD, covers prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation and recovery. It sits alongside the Comcare claim rather than replacing it. For how other forces compare, see our national guide to police workers compensation.

An "injury" covers physical injuries, diseases and the aggravation of existing conditions. For a disease, including most psychological conditions, your employment must have contributed "to a significant degree", which section 5B defines as "substantially more than material".

Section 53 requires written notice of the injury "as soon as practicable" after you become aware of it. A late notice is still accepted if it causes no prejudice or there's a reasonable cause, but early notice makes everything easier.

1. 1

   Report it at work

   Same shift

   Tell your supervisor and record the incident through the AFP's internal safety reporting. Note dates, job numbers and witnesses.

2. 2

   See a doctor or psychologist

   As soon as you can

   Get a medical certificate. Tell them it's a work injury and describe the incident or exposure.

3. 3

   Lodge the Comcare claim form

   As soon as practicable

   Use Comcare's approved form with the certificate. Without the certificate the claim isn't treated as made, except for medical-expense-only claims (s 54).

4. 4

   Comcare decides

   20 or 60 days

   20 calendar days for an injury, 60 for a disease (most psychological claims), under the SRC Regulations. The clock pauses while a medical examination or information is outstanding.

5. 5

   Rehabilitation and return to work

   Ongoing

   The AFP works with you on rehabilitation, suitable duties and a return-to-work plan, with SHIELD covering early intervention and recovery.

Weekly incapacity payments are worked out from your normal weekly earnings (NWE). That's your ordinary-time pay plus average allowances, excluding allowances for special expenses (s 8). Overtime counts only if you were required to work it on a regular basis. The averaging period is the 2 weeks of continuous employment before the injury (s 9).

For the first 45 weeks of incapacity, Comcare pays NWE minus what you earn, or could earn, in suitable work. The 45 weeks are counted in lost hours, up to 45 times your normal weekly hours, so a graduated return stretches them out (s 19(2), (2A)).

Weekly payments stop at pension age. If you're injured within 2 years of pension age, they're limited to 104 weeks (s 23). There's no compulsory retirement age in the AFP Act, so this is the hard stop for most members.

After 45 weeks, every extra hour you can safely work lifts your total income. The step-down is designed to reward a graduated return.

Take a member on Band 3.3 ($81,350 base from 9 December 2025) on an Operations pattern with the 22% Core Composite: $99,247 a year, calculated by us. Using the AFP's pay formula (annual x 12/313 a fortnight), that's about $1,902 a week. Your real NWE depends on your allowances in the 2 weeks before the injury.

If this member is fully off work after 45 weeks, Comcare pays about $1,427 a week. If they're back on exactly half their normal hours, they earn about $951 and Comcare pays about $666, for $1,617 in total (the 85% band). A small increase in hours above 50% moves them into the 90% band.

Part III of the SRC Act deals with rehabilitation, and it puts real duties on the employer as well as on you. In practice the AFP's SHIELD team, an approved rehabilitation provider and your treating practitioner work together on a plan to get you back to safe, meaningful work.

Take part in assessments and programs unless you have a genuine reason not to. Refusing without a reasonable excuse can affect your compensation, so if a proposed program doesn't suit your injury, put your reasons in writing and get your treating doctor's view.

For specialist roles with operational standards, such as firearms or tactical work, ask early how long you can stay on restricted duties and what a return to full duties will require.

Since the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023, the SRC Act presumes that PTSD in a first responder is work-related. Section 7(13)(a) names the AFP Commissioner, a Deputy Commissioner and any AFP employee as first responders, so sworn members, PSOs, ACT Policing and unsworn staff are all included.

For other psychological injuries, the general disease test applies: work must contribute substantially more than materially. Keep notes of incidents, deployments and conversations, and see a treating practitioner early.

Comcare pays the reasonable cost of medical treatment for an accepted injury, whether or not you're off work (s 16). There's also help with household services and attendant care (s 29), and two lump sums for permanent impairment.

The permanent impairment payment under section 24 is based on your whole person impairment percentage under Comcare's approved Guide. Non-economic loss under section 27 is paid on top, using a second assessment of how the impairment affects your life. The 10% threshold applies to psychiatric impairment too.

Section 32 of the AFP Act lets the Commissioner retire an employee "because of physical or mental incapacity", with or without consent. A non-consensual retirement can be reviewed. Before it can happen, CSC must usually certify: a section 54C certificate for CSS members under maximum retiring age, and certificates for PSS and PSSap members under 60.

1. 1

   Accepted Comcare claim

   While employed

   Weekly payments under s 19, with rehabilitation and suitable duties.

2. 2

   Incapacity retirement considered

   s 32

   The Commissioner decides under AFP Act s 32, after any CSC certificate.

3. 3

   Super benefit paid

   CSC

   Your CSS, PSS or PSSap invalidity benefit is paid because of the retirement.

4. 4

   Comcare payments recalculated

   ss 20-21A

   Weekly payments switch from s 19 to s 20 (pension), s 21 (lump sum) or s 21A (both), which reduce compensation by reference to the super benefit.

The offset formulas are complex and depend on your scheme, so ask Comcare and CSC for written estimates before agreeing to retire. Our AFP medical retirement guide covers the process in more detail.

If Comcare rejects your claim, reduces payments or refuses treatment, there's a clear three-step path. The AAT was replaced by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) on 14 October 2024.

The AFP Association has industrial officers and lawyers who help members with Comcare disputes and appeals. Call them before you lodge a reconsideration request, because the evidence you submit then shapes everything after.

These services are confirmed on the AFP's, the AFPA's or the provider's own website.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000.

The AFPA handles Comcare matters every week. Take this list to your first call.

For pay context, see our AFP salary guide and the AFP pay deal. Comparing forces? Read how the NT, SA and Tasmania treat injured officers.