Narelle’s shoulder injury led to a $122,000 WorkCover payout and a fresh start.

24 July 2025

Narelle was doing her best to keep things running smoothly when Melbourne went into its long COVID lockdown in late 2020. As an administrative assistant for a busy architecture firm, she was used to juggling paperwork and supporting her team. But what she wasn’t prepared for was the physical toll of her employer’s outdated systems.

Despite months of warnings and earlier shorter lockdowns, the firm had resisted going digital. Instead of scanning documents or easing the transition to remote work, they packed up 70 archive boxes, filled to the brim with hard copy files, and sent them to Narelle’s home.

Every time someone needed a document, Narelle had to dig through the boxes, scan the files, and send them off. It was inefficient, exhausting, and physically demanding. Eventually, the inevitable happened: while lifting one of the heavy boxes, Narelle seriously injured her left shoulder.

Unfortunately, she needed surgery. Her Workcover claim was accepted and the Victorian WorkCover Authority (VWA) agreed that Narelle had a serious injury, but denied they were at fault. For Narelle, the situation was confusing, frustrating, and unjust.

Narelle reached out to Law Partners for help.

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How we helped Narelle get the compensation she deserved.

Senior managing solicitor Ashleigh Kemp, a specialist in Victorian WorkCover claims, acted for Narelle. She listened carefully, got to know Narelle personally, and pieced together the full story.

Ashleigh and her team tracked down another administrative assistant who’d also received boxes at home. That colleague confirmed what Narelle had said: the boxes were packed by a senior staff member who’d stuffed them fuller than necessary of paperwork, making them dangerously heavy.

Armed with this evidence, Law Partners built a compelling case and lodged a Serious Injury Application on Narelle’s behalf. The VWA argued that because COVID was unprecedented, the employer had no choice but to send the files home with Narelle. We argued that the employer had six months to digitise their systems and avoid placing such a burden on their staff. Eventually, the VWA agreed to resolve Narelle’s case.

The result was a $122,000 settlement for Narelle, for pain and suffering damages.

As Narelle said, “I didn’t expect such a positive outcome, especially with how resistant the VWA was. But this gave me financial freedom and the chance to study for a new career. I feel more empowered now, and I can raise my eight-year-old daughter with less stress and more opportunity. I’m so grateful to Ashleigh and the Law Partners team for believing in me and truly fighting for what was fair.”