Edition No.15

Welcome

Welcome to the latest edition of Personal Injury Commission News. I trust that you are keeping safe and well and enjoying the first week of NSW beginning to open up.

In line with the easing of restrictions, plans are underway for the Commission to recommence in-person medical examinations safely from Monday 25 October. This will be a welcome return and will have an enormous impact on the Commission’s ability to reach outcomes for injured people who require these assessments for the resolution of their disputes.

This edition includes an update on the Rules consultation, early notice of the key dates for the Commission’s end of year closedown, information about progress toward the establishment of a single case management platform for the Commission, news about the refurbishment of our offices and a reminder for practitioners regarding the need to be responsive to Commission correspondence.

I will be in touch with another edition of Personal Injury Commission News soon that will provide further details regarding the procedures and protocols for the recommencement of in-person medical assessments.

Kind regards,

Judge Gerard Phillips President

In-Person Medical Assessments Recommence Monday 25 October 2021

With pandemic-related restrictions easing across NSW, the Commission will recommence in-person medical assessments from Monday 25 October. Further details regarding the protocols required to keep everyone involved safe will be issued soon.

Initial Review of the Personal Injury Commission Rules (2021) – Consultation Complete

I want to thank everyone who contributed comments and submissions for the Initial Review of the Personal Injury Commission Rules. Consultation submissions closed on 8 October 2021.

The feedback received was well thought through and will be of benefit to the Rule Committee in its considerations. What is pleasing is that generally practitioners are happy with the Rules and how they are operating and only a small number of enhancements have been suggested. This supports the Commission’s experience that during 2021 there have been very few issues with the operation of the Rules.

The Rule Committee will now commence its review. I will notify users and practitioners of the outcomes of the review before the end of the year.

Christmas/New Year Closedown – Key Dates

The Commission will be operating with reduced staffing from Monday 27 December 2021 to Friday 7 January 2022, with only a small team of front-line staff working remotely across the period.

Please note the following key dates and information related to the Commission’s various listings and functions. These details will be published to the Commission’s website soon for your reference.

Motor Accidents Division Listings and Functions

Things to note:

• Urgent matters may be listed in the period from 20 December 2021 to 7 January 2022.
• The usual review periods apply during the closedown period.
• Consent orders lodged by parties during the closedown period will be issued.

Workers Compensation Division Listings and Functions

Things to note:

• The Workers Compensation Division Listing Timetable sets out the likely teleconference, service and reply dates, that will apply to matters filed in the Workers Compensation Division during the Christmas/New Year period. Listings will be allocated on the dates indicated in the timetable, subject to availability.
• Practitioners are advised not to lodge dispute applications on dates that will result in a listing falling within or near their planned leave.
• 19 November 2021 is the last filing date that an application to resolve a dispute (form 2) will be allocated a teleconference listing date in 2021, namely, 17 December 2021 (being 28 days from lodgment).
• Urgent matters may be listed in the period from 20 December 2021 to 7 January 2022.
• The usual appeal periods apply during the closedown period.
• Consent orders lodged by parties during the closedown period will be issued.

Registry Services

Registry Services will operate with skeleton staff between Monday, 27 December 2021 and Friday, 7 January 2022:

• All calls should be directed to 1800 PIC NSW (1800 742 679).
• The front counter at 1 Oxford Street Darlinghurst will remain closed.
• All documents should be submitted via the Commission’s Portals.
• Mail can continue to be directed to PO Box 594 Darlinghurst NSW 1300.

Systems Support

Email and telephone technical support for the Commission’s Portals will be unavailable from Monday, 27 December 2021 to Friday, 7 January 2022.

Tender Process Commenced for the Commission’s New Case Management Platform

The Personal Injury Commission is committed to moving to a single electronic case management platform for Motor Accidents and Workers Compensation disputes in late 2022/early 2023.

Having a single case management platform in place will enable a better experience for everyone who engages with the Commission as you will only need to interact with one system.

The tender for the new platform went to market last Friday 8 October 2021.

This followed the initial analysis stage of the project, that involved interviews with a broad range of users of the current systems, both internal and external, to understand their experience with the current systems and their views on what is needed for the future. I would like to thank the many staff, decision makers, medical assessors, legal representatives and insurers who shared their invaluable insights and feedback as part of that process.

After the new platform is procured, the project will proceed into the development and build of the platform during 2022.

I will keep you updated as the project progresses.

The Commission’s Offices Remain Closed Until 2022 for Refurbishment

Construction will soon commence for the refurbishment of the Commission’s offices at 1 Oxford Street Darlinghurst. The refurbishment will deliver a new, modern, state-of-the art home for the Commission, including a new large hearing room and dedicated medical suites.

As such, the offices will remain closed into early 2022. Staff will continue working remotely and proceedings will continue to be held virtually until the refurbishment is complete.

I look forward to welcoming everyone back to our ‘new look’ Commission premises in the new year and will confirm our reopening dates closer to the time.

Reminder for Legal Representatives: Please Provide Information Requested for Proceedings in a Timely Manner

Legal representatives are reminded to read and action correspondence issued by the Commission related to teleconferences and hearings.

To ensure that proceedings run smoothly, parties need to provide contact details requested in a timely manner, including the full name of all participants and to advise the Commission as soon as possible if there are any changes.

Any request to modify the participants close to the scheduled event may not be made in time and could potentially cause delays.

Legal representatives must ensure that they advise their client appropriately and ensure that they provide them with all the information that they need to participate in the scheduled event.

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