Edition No.37

This edition was issued on 5 October 2022

Welcome

Welcome to the latest edition of the Personal Injury Commission News.

This edition focuses on changes to COVID-19 safety requirements for in-person dispute resolution events and details regarding our Christmas shut down period.

I will be in touch with another edition soon.

Regards, 

Judge Gerard Phillips  
President

Changes to COVID-19 Safety Requirements for In-Person Dispute Resolution Events from 10 October 2022

Since the Commission recommenced in-person dispute resolution events during April 2022, we have had a number of strict protocols in place to keep event participants safe from COVID-19 transmission. These have served us well across the last six months and have enabled us to proceed with offering these important services face-to-face. We are thankful to all parties for their adherence to these protocols to date. 

Due to further evolution in the pandemic conditions, however, and the way that risks associated with COVID-19 are being addressed in the community and comparable organisations, the Commission is now in a position to adjust these settings. 

Effective from Monday 10 October 2022, participants attending in-person dispute resolution events will no longer be required to have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination or produce a negative RAT before attending the Commission premises, however this testing will continue to be encouraged.

The Commission is currently reviewing our position on mask wearing and will advise users should these requirements change in the near future. 

Procedural Direction PIC 10 will be updated to reflect the changes shortly. 

Parties who have already received correspondence regarding confirmed in-person event listings from 10 October 2022 will be contacted regarding these changes. 

The Commission is not making changes to the safety requirements for in-person medical assessments at this stage, due to the higher risk-profile of these assessments that are conducted in close quarters, however we will reassess these controls in the near future. 

The Commission remains committed to reviewing our arrangements and adjusting them as necessary as the pandemic situation develops. Thank you for your ongoing cooperation with our COVID-safety requirements.

Christmas / New Year Shutdown

Our operations will completely shut down from Monday, 26 December 2022 to Friday, 6 January 2023.  

Key points to note:

  • The last official sitting day of the Commission will be Friday, 16 December 2022 however, matters may be listed by exception during the week of 19 December 2022;
  • There will be no medical assessments conducted between Friday, 23 December 2022 and Friday, 6 January 2023;
  • There will be no certificates issued between 23 December 2022 and 6 January 2023;
  • Preliminary conferences and medical assessments will recommence on Monday, 9 January 2023; and
  • Conciliation/arbitrations, assessment conferences, and mediations will recommence on Monday, 16 January 2023.

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