Edition No.50

Welcome

In this edition, we give final instructions on how you should prepare for the launch of the Commission’s single digital portal, Pathway, on Monday 19 June. A sincere thanks to everyone who has participated in the introduction of this important project, which promises to transform how we deliver services to injured people in NSW.

We also have a summary of changes to Procedural Direction PIC1 that deal with filing notices of Change of Solicitor and Ceasing to Act during proceedings. 

We also include a link to the text of the 2023 Whitmore Lecture given by the Honourable Justice Robert Beech-Jones, titled The Constitution and State Tribunals.

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

Regards,

Reminder: New single digital platform will launch for Motor Accidents users next week

The Commission’s new single digital dispute resolution platform called ‘Pathway’ is scheduled to launch for Motor Accidents staff, decision makers and users next week.

• Commission staff will commence using Pathway on Monday 19 June 2023.
• Claimants, insurers and legal representatives in Motor Accidents disputes will commence using the new Pathway Portal at 9am on Tuesday 20 June 2023.
• Motor Accidents Members, Merit Reviewers and Medical Assessors will commence using the new myPathway at 9am on Tuesday 20 June 2023.

The legacy ‘Nexus’ platform has now closed, and the data is in the process of being transferred to the Pathway platform. Comprehensive testing and verification will be conducted across the weekend to ensure that everything is in place and ready for the platform to launch. 

As with the implementation of any new IT platform, there may be minor technical issues encountered in the window immediately after launch. We would be grateful if users report these so they can be addressed and resolved as quickly as possible and thank you for your patience as the new platform settles.

Reminder: Outage of Motor Accidents digital service now underway until 9am Tuesday 20 June 2023

The current Motor Accidents Claimant, Insurer and Legal Portals have ceased operation and an outage is now underway while data is migrated to the Pathway Portal. Parties are not able to lodge applications, replies or messages online during the outage. 

The Commission strongly encourages parties to withhold filing until the new Pathway Portal goes live at 9am Tuesday, 20 June. 

For any urgent applications or documents that need to be filed within the period Friday 16 June to Monday 19 June 2023 (the cutover period) Rule 23(3)(a) will be used as the mechanism to allow filing via email via [email protected].

Any applications or documents lodged during this time via help@pi will be taken to be filed at the time the email is received at the Commission. 

Documents filed via email will need to be in the correct form with forms available on our website.

Insurers and Legal Representatives will need to register to use the Pathway Portal the first time they access it

Users of the current Insurer and Legal Portal who need access to the new Pathway Portal will need to register to use it the first time they visit the Portal on or after Tuesday 20 June 2023. Registration cannot be conducted before that time. The link to the Pathway Portal will be available on the ‘Applying online’ page of the Commission website at 9am on Tuesday 20 June 2023.

• Email: [email protected] or

• Call: 1800 742 679 (1800 PIC NSW) and select ‘2’ from the menu.

I would like to thank everyone who has engaged with the comprehensive education and training program the Commission has provided to support the launch to date. User guides and eLearning modules are available on the Commission website for your reference. The ultimate success of the platform will rely on the people who need to use it arming themselves with the knowledge available and taking the steps necessary to prepare.

The launch of this first phase of the Pathway platform for Motor Accidents users is an important milestone for the Commission. When Workers Compensation users move to the platform early next year, all Commission staff, decision makers and parties will have a single place and a single way to engage in the dispute resolution process online.

Amendments to Procedural Direction PIC1

• 12. Rule 60(1) of the PIC Rules provides that a party to applicable proceedings must notify the President and the other parties within seven days after a change in the legal practitioner or agent representing the party. The party should notify the President by completing the approved form.

• 40. Rule 60(2) of the PIC Rules provides that a legal practitioner or agent presenting a party who ceases during applicable proceedings to represent the party must notify the President and the other parties within seven days after ceasing to represent the party. The President should be notified by completing the approved form.

2023 Whitmore Lecture

The 2023 Whitmore Lecture was delivered by the Honourable Justice Robert Beech-Jones, Chief Judge at Common Law and Judge of Appeal, Supreme Court of New South Wales, on 17 May 2023 and titled The Constitution and State Tribunals. Click here for the text of his speech.

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