State-wide genomic epidemiology investigations of COVID-19 in healthcare workers in 2020 Victoria, Australia: Qualitative thematic analysis to provide insights for future pandemic preparedness.

Background: COVID-19 has affected many healthcare workers (HCWs) globally. We performed state-wide SARS-CoV-2 genomic epidemiological investigations to identify HCW transmission dynamics and provide recommendations to optimise healthcare system preparedness for future outbreaks.

Methods: Genome sequencing was attempted on all COVID-19 cases in Victoria, Australia.

Step-downs reduce workers' compensation payments to encourage return to work: are they effective?

Objective: To determine whether step-downs, which cut the rate of compensation paid to injured workers after they have been on benefits for several months, are effective as a return to work incentive.

Methods: We aggregated administrative claims data from seven Australian workers' compensation systems to calculate weekly scheme exit rates, a proxy for return to work. Jurisdictions were further subdivided into four injury subgroups: fractures, musculoskeletal, mental health and other trauma.

Impact of legislative reform on benefit access and disability duration in workers' compensation: an interrupted time series study.

Objectives: To determine the impact of legislative changes to the New South Wales (NSW) workers' compensation scheme on injured workers access to benefits, insurer claim processing and work disability duration.

Methods: Population-based interrupted time series study of workers' compensation claims made in NSW 2 years before and after legislative amendment in June 2012. Outcomes included incidence of accepted claims per 100 000 workers, the median and 75th percentile insurer decision time in days, and the median and 75th percentile of work disability duration in weeks.