Edition No.47

Welcome

This edition includes an important update regarding our new single digital platform, Pathway, information regarding amendments to Procedural Direction PIC6, applying to medical disputes, as well as links to a speech I recently delivered at the annual Michael O’Dea Oration at the University of Notre Dame and an article on our virtual hearing venue in Dubbo, from the NSW Bar Association’s Bar News.

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

New Single Digital Platform Will Launch for Motor Accidents Users from 19 June 2023

The Commission’s new single digital dispute resolution platform called ‘Pathway’ is scheduled to launch for Motor Accidents staff, decision makers and users in the week commencing 19 June 2023. Workers Compensation Division users will transition to the platform in early 2024. Over the weekend preceding the Pathway implementation, the Nexus platform will be decommissioned.

The decision to launch follows lengthy development, testing and fine-tuning of the platform across many months and reflects confidence that the platform will meet the needs of its users. I would like to thank the many representatives of each cohort who have provided valued input across the development and testing processes for your time and feedback.

What You Can Do to Make this New Platform Work as Intended

Every new IT platform is different to that which it replaces. Pathway will be different to what you have been accustomed to. It is therefore the duty of everybody who will be using Pathway to rapidly become competent in its use. We will assist you in quickly attaining this competence by rolling out a thorough program of training and instruction.

The Motor Accidents users will be supported through the transition to Pathway and its associated portals with comprehensive education, training and reference materials and dedicated resources will be available to provide usage and technical assistance from go-live. I encourage everyone who will use the new platform to engage with the education and support and invest the time needed to learn how to use it upfront. The smoothness of the transition and ultimate success of Pathway will rely on everyone taking the necessary steps to prepare themselves.

The deployment of every new IT platform is not without its challenges. If everybody is patient and we work together across the transition period, I am confident that all users will be satisfied with the functionality of the new platform.

The Commission will communicate directly with all impacted cohorts in the coming weeks regarding all aspects of the transition and welcomes your involvement in ensuring the Pathway launch is a success.

Amendment to Procedural Direction PIC6 – Medical Assessments

1. The wording of paragraph 14 has been amended to better reflect the language of s 7.20(3) of the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017, to establish ‘insufficient evidence’ as the grounds for the President refusing to accept a referral of a dispute about the degree of permanent impairment.
2. Examples of evidence of Impairment Threshold in paragraph 14 have been removed.
3. Paragraph 17 has been removed to simplify the process.

Michael O’Dea Oration

On Monday 8 May 2023, the President delivered the annual Michael O’Dea Oration at the University of Notre Dame Australia.

Click here to view the transcript of the speech.

Dubbo Venue

In the Autumn edition of the NSW Bar Association’s Bar News, there is an article about the Commission’s new virtual hearing venue in Dubbo. Click here to view the article.

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