Glossary

Case Manager

A case manager deals with claims where a case is more intensive and requires more in depth case management.

Claims Manager

A claims manager handles claims that do not require in depth case management. These cases are usually uncomplicated but still require regular payments to be managed.

Cognitive Rehabilitation

This involves a rehabilitation process aimed at the way that the brain works, it will often involve therapy.

Dependent

A dependent is a member of your immediate family who is dependent on you for physical care. A dependent requires this care as a result of illness or injury.

External Force

An external force is a pressure applied to you that is not a part of you. This can include any impact from another source. Gravity has been held to be an external force.

Gradual Process

A gradual process is something that occurs slowly over time. It can be the result of the aging process, repeated use or movement, or wear and tear. Wear and tear occurs when something naturally degrades over time through exposure to the elements or through use.

Impairment

Impairment is where you lose something as a result of an accident-related injury. You are impaired if you lose something because of your injury. This can be a psychological or physical loss. Impairment includes the loss of a function or ability to do something.

Incapacity

The inability to work because of a covered injury. You are incapacitated if you are stopped from working as a result of your injury. The incapacity can be temporary or permanent,

Internal Force

An internal force is something that comes from inside of your body. This will often take the form of a cough or sneeze that may cause an injury.

Mental Injury

This is defined in the Accident Compensation Act 2001. It includes a problem with your psychological state, or your behaviour that is ‘clinically significant’. This means that it will need to be a diagnosed condition.

A mental injury will also need to be an injury that meets the definition of a ‘physical injury’ and will require treatment.

Partner

A partner includes the husband, wife, spouse, partner by way of civil union, and de facto partner.

Permanent Impairment

A permanent impairment is an injury that impairs you that you cannot recover from. This can include permanent brain damage or the loss of a body part.

Personal Injury

A personal injury is an injury that qualifies for cover under Accident Compensation Act 2001. It is defined in section 26 and includes

• the death of a person;
• physical injuries;
• mental injuries suffered because of physical injuries;
• mental injuries suffered because of a sexual offence;
• a work-related mental injury;
• damage to dentures or prosthetics.

Physical Injury

A physical injury requires actual damage to the body, and will not include a diagnoses of ‘pain’ without a diagnosis of an actual injury. Injuries will include :

• Wounds;
• Lacerations;
• Bruises;
• Sprains;
• Strains;
• A gradual process injury;
• Fractures;
• Amputations;
• Dislocations;
• Blindness;
• Something being in your eye;
• Poisoning;
• Damage to dentures or prosthetics.

Social Rehabilitation

Social rehabilitation is aimed at helping you to rejoin the community. It will cover any rehabilitative method or tools that are not used to help you to return to work. Social rehabilitation is used to help you to enjoy life.

Treatment Injury

A treatment injury is any injury that you sustain during, or as a result of a treatment. Treatment begins from the time that you seek help from a medical professional.

Vocational Rehabilitation

Vocation rehabilitation is any process or tool that ACC uses to help you to return to the workforce, or to make it easier to work as a result of your injury.