Updated Pathway Portal forms to support workers compensation reform

We have updated several workers compensation forms in the Pathway Portal.

Updated Pathway Portal forms to support workers compensation reform

14 Aug 2026

We have updated several workers compensation forms in the Pathway Portal.

From 14 August 2026, new questions will appear in these forms to enable the collection of additional information required for disputes, arising from the legislative changes to the workers compensation scheme in NSW, which commenced on 1 July 2026. These changes are detailed below.

What has changed?
Form 1 – Application for Expedited Assessment
New questions have been added to capture whether:

A tutor is required to be appointed for a person with legal incapacity.
There are any non-publication or suppression orders in place.
The dispute is about 'a decision about Pre-Injury Average Weekly Earnings (made on or after 1 July 2026),' as distinct from a work capacity decision.
The worker has received a pre-reform impairment assessment.
The injury is a primary or secondary psychological injury.
For primary psychological injuries, whether the claim involves a dispute about 'relevant conduct' and a determination has been made by the Industrial Relations Commission.

Form 1B – Reply to Application for Expedited Assessment
New questions have been added to capture whether:

The Respondent would like to raise any objection to the application being heard at the Personal Injury Commission on the basis that a dispute about 'relevant conduct' has not been determined by the Industrial Relations Commission.

Form 7 – Application for Assessment by a Medical Assessor
New questions have been added to capture whether:

The worker is exempt from the legislative changes.
A tutor is required to be appointed for a person with legal incapacity.
There are any non-publication or suppression orders in place.
For primary psychological injuries, whether the claim involves a dispute about 'relevant conduct' and a determination has been made by the Industrial Relations Commission.
A medical assessment is required for weekly payments ceasing under section 39 of the Workers Compensation Act 1987.

The 'this application is for' section has been updated to add three new options:

Assessment of whether the degree of permanent impairment meets the requisite threshold for weekly payments after 130 weeks (for primary psychological injuries notified on or after 1 July 2026).
Assessment of the degree of permanent impairment following an 'interim period assessment' or 'principal assessment'.
Further assessment of the degree of permanent impairment on the basis of an 'unexpected and material deterioration' since the last assessment.

Form 7A – Response to Application for a Medical Assessment
New questions have been added to capture whether:

A tutor is required to be appointed for a person with legal incapacity.
There are any non-publication or suppression orders in place.

Form 10 – Appeal Against a Decision of Medical Assessor
A new question has been added to capture whether:

There are any non-publication or suppression orders in place.

The 'Grounds of Appeal' section has an additional ground that applies to proceedings commenced on or after 1 July 2026:

'An unexpected and material deterioration in the worker’s condition since the medical assessment was made under Part 7 Chapter 7 of the Workers Compensation Act 1998 that results in an increase in the degree of permanent impairment of at least a further 10 percentage points.'

Form 10A – Notice of Opposition Appeal Against Decision of Medical Assessor
A new question has been added to capture whether:

There are any non-publication or suppression orders in place.

The ‘Notice to parties’ section of forms 1, 1B, 7 and 7A have been updated with some information about the relevant changes made to the Workers Compensation Act 1987, Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998, and the Workers Compensation Regulation 2016.

Where any of these forms are being lodged by an insurer or insurer legal representative, there is also a new certification to attest that the case has reasonable prospects of success based on provable facts and a reasonably arguable view of the law, and that the costs of commencing or defending the proceedings are proportionate to the claim and significance of the issues in dispute (section 195 of the Workers Compensation Act 1987).

What do I need to do?
If you have started but not submitted a temporary form before 13 August 2026, you will need to complete the new questions before the form can be submitted. The new questions and responses will also appear in PDF copies of the forms generated in the Portal.

Need support?
If you require support with the Pathway Portal, please log a Digital Hub request and our team will assist you.

Log a Digital Hub request

For all other enquires, please contact us.

Contact the Commission

More information about the implementation of amendments to workers compensation legislation is available on the Commission’s website, including a fact sheet on understanding personal injury disputes under the new workers compensation legislation.

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