---
title: "Test a Queensland psychological injury against the significant-contributing-factor test"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/personal-injury-and-compensation/test-a-primary-mental-injury-against-the-employment-contribution-test/queensland"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A21-WC20261023-13-QLD"
practice_area: "Personal Injury & Compensation (workers compensation, CTP/TAC, medical negligence)"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["QLD"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-25"
---

# Test a Queensland psychological injury against the significant-contributing-factor test

> From the diagnosis and the events, using a firm-controlled tool, table section 32's significant-contributing-factor test and list the facts still missing.…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/personal-injury-and-compensation/test-a-primary-mental-injury-against-the-employment-contribution-test/queensland  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-25

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Personal Injury & Compensation (workers compensation, CTP/TAC, medical negligence)](https://ailawframework.com/practice/personal-injury-and-compensation.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | From the diagnosis and the events, using a firm-controlled tool, table section 32's significant-contributing-factor test and list the facts still missing. Do not decide the claim, and do not re-decide the management-action exclusion. |
| What the lawyer must review | Apply section 32(1) in full: arising out of, or in the course of, employment, and a significant contributing factor. Do not replace that test with a predominant-cause or main-contributing-factor test. Leave section 32(5) to the management-action task. Sections 34 and 35 stay on the journey and recess tasks. Health and wage records stay in a firm-controlled tool. Apply ASCR r 9, APP 11, and the notifiable-breach test. |
| Written for | Queensland |
| Applies to | [Test a primary mental injury against the employment-contribution test](https://ailawframework.com/practice/personal-injury-and-compensation/test-a-primary-mental-injury-against-the-employment-contribution-test.md) |

## Checking plan

**Verify against sources**

Section 32(1) requires the injury to arise out of, or in the course of, employment and the employment to be a significant contributing factor. Section 32(2) creates an exception where section 34(2) or section 35(2) applies. Those sections were not opened. The opened text does not use the words predominant or main. Where the simplified first-responder pathway does not apply, the post-traumatic stress page returns the claim to this ordinary test.

- What the AI does: From the diagnosis and the events, using a firm-controlled tool, table section 32's significant-contributing-factor test and list the facts still missing. Do not decide the claim, and do not re-decide the management-action exclusion.
- What the lawyer does: The lawyer decides the legal question, checks the sources, and authorises anything the family or the insurer will receive.
- Who reviews: Lawyer competent in statutory workers compensation
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 23 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Checks the lawyer makes

1. Record the employment events and the other causes before applying section 32(1).
2. Do not describe section 34 or section 35. They were not opened.
3. If the dispute is about reasonable management action, use the earlier task rather than this one.
4. Confirm the AustLII text against the official legislation site.

## Notes

- No generative-AI practice note of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission or the Industrial Court was opened. Apply the forum's current direction before a document is lodged.
- The section was read on an AustLII consolidation. Confirm the in-force wording on the official legislation site before reliance.
- If health or wage records leave the firm-controlled tool, decide whether a Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) breach is notifiable.

## Practical guide

Jurisdiction: Queensland, Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, section 32, AustLII consolidation to be confirmed

**Deliverable**: A section 32 factor note for the lawyer's decision.

**Inputs**

- Diagnosis of the psychological injury
- Account of the employment events
- Account of causes outside employment

**Example**: Illustrative example: The worker has a psychological diagnosis and describes both a workplace conflict and a serious event outside work. The note lists both. The lawyer decides whether employment was a significant contributing factor. The tool does not call employment the main cause.

**Stop and escalate when**

- The only dispute is the management-action exclusion.
- Section 34 or section 35 would have to be described.

Checked 2026-10-23.

## Sources

- [AustLII: Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, section 32](https://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/wcara2003400/s32.html) (checked 2026-10-23)
- [WorkSafe Queensland: simplified claims for first responders with PTSD](https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/workers-compensation/work-related-injuries/types-of-injury-or-illness/Psychological-injuries/simplified-workers-compensation-for-first-responders-with-ptsd) (checked 2026-10-23)

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*