Edition No.96
This edition was issued on 13 May 2026
Welcome
In this edition, I am sorry to report that one of our wonderful members, Michael McGrowdie recently passed away following a battle with cancer. On behalf of everyone here at the Commission, I extend my condolences to Michael’s family, friends and all those he has worked with throughout his long and illustrious career.
You will find an important update on the high number of filings we continue to receive across the Workers Compensation and Motor Accidents Divisions. While our finalisations remain strong, we are seeing our clearance rate drop slightly. Given that the increased workload is likely to continue for some time to come, delays in the dispute management process should be expected. Please be assured that we will continue to keep tribunal users updated and are continuing to roll out a range of initiatives to meet the demand, such as pre-assessment checks for motor accidents medical assessments. I would also strongly urge all tribunal users to assist the Commission by ensuring that material is filed correctly in accordance with the required timelines and that claimants attend their medical assessments.
Cyber security continues to be a key priority for the Commission, with CAPTCHA verification now in place for our online Commission events and further updates coming to Pathway. You can read more about these below.
While I am on the topic of cyber security, I again remind practitioners that you must notify us if you or your firm is subject to a cyber security breach. You can do this by calling our Digital Support Team on 1800 PIC NSW (1800 742 679).
All tribunal users are reminded about the Commission’s rules around the use of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), which are critical to the administration of justice. We have now seen several matters where submissions have clearly been AI-generated, which have been dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Finally, work continues to prepare for the centenary of workers compensation coming up later this year. Submissions will soon close for the centenary publication, so please submit any material as soon as possible. Please save the date for our celebratory dinner which will be held on 4 November.
Regards,
Judge Gerard Phillips
President
Vale Michael McGrowdie
Michael McGrowdie was a highly regarded member and mediator at the Personal Injury Commission with an impressive reputation within the law, right up to his passing on 23 April following a battle with cancer. Our prayers and sympathy go out to his daughters.
Michael began his legal career with the famous Sydney firm Dawson Waldron, before being called to the Bar in 1975. He served on the Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, was an acting Judge of the Compensation Court, a Judge of the District Court, an Acting Deputy President and then Arbitrator of the Workers Compensation Commission, a personal injury claims assessor with the Motor Accidents Authority, and a part-time senior member of the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal, often holding roles concurrently.
Michael had an academic career as well, lecturing in advocacy at the University of Notre Dame School of Law in Sydney. He was appointed an Adjunct Professor of that institution from 2015 to 2018.
In November 2021, he joined the Personal Injury Commission, which had replaced the Workers Compensation Commission earlier that year. He remained a sessional member and a mediator of the new Commission until his death.
Michael’s long service to the Commission was such a labour of public service and he loved working here. He is fondly remembered by the profession, the Commission’s staff and membership, and will be sorely missed.
Increased filings continue
The Commission is continuing to experience a high volume of filings, with applications being filed in record numbers. Finalisations have remained strong but have not been able to keep pace with these filing rates. This means the Commission’s clearance rate has dropped compared with last year, and the volume of work on hand has increased. Stakeholders should expect slight delays in registrations and may experience some increases in lifecycles and wait times to dispute resolution events.
Please be assured that urgent and time sensitive filings continue to be registered quickly. If you have an urgent matter, please contact the Commission via help@pi.nsw.gov.au.
Read more
Pre-assessment checks for motor accidents medical assessments
Claimants attending a motor accidents medical assessment are now being contacted directly two weeks prior to their appointment for a pre-assessment check-in.
The new initiative is designed to help prepare claimants for the assessment, by letting them know what to expect and reminding them when and where it will take place.
Cancelled or re-scheduled medical assessments continue to be a contributing factor in delays in motor accidents medical proceedings, and it is hoped this new initiative will assist with addressing this issue.
This new initiative does not remove the obligation of practitioners to appropriately prepare their client for a medical assessment and address any barriers from them attending. This includes explaining to their client the importance of attending their medical assessment, both for the timely resolution of their dispute and the disputes of other injured claimants and sharing with them the medical assessment fact sheets.
CAPTCHA reminder for online Commission events
Tribunal users attending online Commission events are reminded that they must now complete a CAPTCHA verification step before joining the Microsoft Teams meeting.
The verification step will appear on the screen when joining the meeting and will ask the user to:
- type a short text prompt (Latin characters), or
- complete a short audio check (in English).
This helps confirm the user is a real person while preventing AI-based bots and tools joining Commission events and webinars.
The introduction of CAPTCHA is part of the Commission’s cyber security strategy while also supporting implementation of rule 133B which prohibits the use of AI technology, programs or tools in any Commission proceedings.
If tribunal users have any technical difficulties during a Commission event, they should raise it with the decision-maker or contact 1800 PIC NSW (1800 742 679).
Pathway enhancements
The Commission continues to make enhancements to Pathway to improve user experience and boost cyber security.
We recently introduced document numbers on all documents, which will make it easier to identify documents when referring to information with others, and we will soon commence automatic document archiving for documents that have been closed for a period of time, which will enhance our cyber security protections.
Tribunal users should note that there will be a short Pathway outage today, Wednesday 13 May from 7:30pm to midnight, to allow preliminary works to take place ahead of this update.
Work also continues on implementing the Police Office Support Scheme Division in Pathway, which will further harmonise our processes and allow for all disputes to be lodged in the Commission in the same way. A Pathway outage will take place from 7:30pm on Friday 22 May to 11:59pm on Saturday 23 May to allow this to occur. New application and reply forms are expected to be live from Monday 25 May 2026.
Generative artificial intelligence in Commission proceedings
All tribunal users must familiarise themselves with the requirements around the use of Gen AI in Commission proceedings.
The Personal Injury Commission Rules 33A, 33B, and 133B, together with PD PIC 4 Expert Witnesses and PDPIC 13 – Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence, clearly outline the circumstances in which AI is prohibited and the requirements for disclosing whether or not Gen AI was used.
Practitioners must ensure that their clients, and/or investigators who are obtaining or preparing statements, expert reports, or preparing submissions for the purposes of proceedings are aware of these requirements.
Remembering a centenary of workers compensation
Last submissions for the book memorialising the 100-year history of workers compensation in NSW are being called for now ahead of its publication later this year.
From the advocacy that led to the establishment of the Workers Compensation Commission in 1926 through to the legislative reform underway in 2026, the book chronicles a history that ensured workers injured in the course of their duties were supported through compensation. The book will be launched later this year following the centenary on 1 July 2026.
The Commission will also host a commemorative dinner on 4 November, and anyone who has had any involvement in workers compensation practice at any time in their career is encouraged to save the date ahead of tickets going on sale.
Photos and information for the centenary of workers compensation publication can be emailed to history@pi.nsw.gov.au.
Legislative reform
Keep up to date with how the Commission is operationalising the latest legislative changes on our new webpage.
Call for content
To submit stories, materials or photographs for the workers compensation centenary publication, email history@pi.nsw.gov.au.
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 communications@pi.nsw.gov.au
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