Edition No.19

This edition was issued on 25 November 2021

Welcome

Welcome to the latest edition of Personal Injury Commission News.

This edition includes an announcement of new Member appointments for the Workers Compensation Division, notification of an extension of the current arrangements for in-person medical assessments, details regarding recruitment of Mediators, a link to the Commission’s inaugural Annual Review and a reminder of the Commission’s end of year operating arrangements.

I will be in touch with another edition of Personal Injury Commission News soon.

Regards,

Judge Gerard Phillips

President

New Members Appointed to the Workers Compensation Division

It is my great pleasure to announce the following promotions and appointments to the Workers Compensation Division.

Full-Time Senior Members:
  • Ms Elizabeth Beilby
  • Ms Kerry Haddock
Full-Time General Members:
  • Ms Jacqueline Snell
  • Mr Gaius Whiffin
Sessional General Members:
  • Mr Michael McGrowdie
  • Mr Christopher Wood

They will be starting in their new roles commencing this week and over the next few months. I congratulate them on their appointments and look forward to their contribution to the Commission.

COVID-19 Safety Requirements for In-Person Medical Assessments Extended to 28 January 2022

The current vaccination and negative COVID-19 swab result requirements for claimants and workers attending in-person medical assessments will remain in place to Friday 28 January 2022. This is based on feedback from the Commission’s Medical Assessors that the arrangements are working well and to ensure process consistency across the holiday period.

In summary, in-person examinations will only proceed in situations where:

  • The Medical Assessor and their staff are fully vaccinated (and received their second vaccine dose at least two weeks prior) and COVID-19 safe protocols are in place in respect of physical distancing, hygiene and cleaning, and administrative controls at their premises, and
  • The claimant or worker and any support persons are fully vaccinated (and received their second vaccine dose at least two weeks prior) and have provided evidence of a negative COVID-19 swab result for a test administered within 72 hours of the medical assessment.

The requirements for attending in-person medical assessments are provided in the:

View more details about these arrangements on the Covid-19 Response page on the Commission’s website.

The Commission is Recruiting for Mediators

The Commission is seeking to appoint suitably qualified and experienced individuals to provide mediation services in the Workers Compensation Division, as required by legislation.

The appointments are for:

  • Mediators for sessional work
  • Appointment for up to three years, with eligibility for re-appointment.

The position advertisement is available on iWork for NSW. Applications for these positions close 09:59am on 23 December 2021.

If you require further information after reviewing the Information Pack, the Mediator Code of Conduct or the Commission’s website, please contact Alexandra Michelin.

The Commission’s Inaugural Annual Review Now Available

I’m pleased to advise that the Commission’s inaugural Annual Review for the 2020/21 financial year was tabled in Parliament yesterday and is now available to view on the Commission’s website.

I encourage you to read it to gain an understanding of the Commission’s performance in its initial four months from 1 March 2021 to 30 June 2021.

The Review also includes a wealth of contextual information regarding the Commission’s establishment, launch and operations and an insightful piece by Member William Dalley regarding the Commission’s place in dispute resolution history.

Reminder: Christmas/New Year Closedown – Key Dates

As reported in the last edition of Personal Injury Commission News, 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.

The key dates and information related to the Commission’s various listings and functions across the period are now available for your reference on the Commission’s website here.

Have a question about the Personal Injury Commission?

If you have a question you would like to ask about the Commission, please email us at [email protected]

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