Petrevski and Linfox Australia Pty Ltd (Compensation)

This matter concerned an application for compensation by Mr Petrevski against Linfox Australia Pty Ltd. The dispute arose from an incident that occurred on 16 March 2021, where Mr Petrevski sustained injuries while performing his duties as a truck driver for Linfox. The application was heard by Senior Member A Nikolic, AM CSC.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether Mr Petrevski's injuries constituted a serious injury for the purposes of the *Accident Compensation Act 1985* (Vic). This determination was crucial as it would affect his entitlement to certain types of compensation, specifically those beyond weekly payments for loss of earnings. The court was required to assess the nature and severity of Mr Petrevski's injuries against the statutory definition of a serious injury.

Senior Member Nikolic considered the medical evidence presented by both parties, focusing on the impact of the injuries on Mr Petrevski's capacity to work and his overall quality of life. The court applied the principles established in case law regarding the assessment of serious injury, which involves a multi-faceted evaluation of physical and psychological impairments, their duration, and their effect on an individual's ability to engage in gainful employment and participate in social and domestic activities. The court found that Mr Petrevski's injuries met the threshold for a serious injury.

Consequently, the court made orders in favour of Mr Petrevski, granting him access to further compensation benefits under the *Accident Compensation Act 1985* (Vic) as a result of his serious injury.