The role of a RTW Coordinator is vital to achieving cost effective and durable return to work’s for people suffering from a work related injury or illness. Every state or territory has different requirements, so what happens in the ACT?
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Injury Management
Beginning 1 January 2019, the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) are applying new reforms to the workers compensation dispute resolution process to align with the Workers Compensation legislation Amendment Act 2018.
The goal of these changes is to minimise dispute by streamlining the system, making it easier and more effective for claims processing and support services.
5 key changes which bring positive effects to the injury management process:
Other smaller changes include:
If you would liek to discuss or need help, please contact us to discuss.
In recent years, the reforms surrounding NSW Workers Compensation have received criticisms of poor practices from employers. The 2015 changes divided the workers compensation system into the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), Insurance and Care NSW (iCare) and SafeWork NSW in an effort to produce a more effective and dedicated response to claims.
The NSW Business chamber highlights inefficiencies in the system which are inflating insurance expenses and negatively impacting both employers and employees. These proposed inefficiencies include poor claims management practices, causing delays to medical and rehabilitation services to workers – which ultimately cause a rise in premium costs. Moreover, inappropriate approval of claims, poor advice and low levels of support for employers and employees have also been blamed.
However, despite the complaints and calls for an urgent review of the system, a spokesman for NSW Treasurer Mr Perrottet mentioned it has brought about massive improvements. Since 2015, they have boasted reduced business premiums, increased worker support and elimination of the scheme debt, which compared to the old scheme, is a huge improvement. The predicted $4.1 billion deficit, premium increases of 28% and failure to help injured workers have supposedly been rectified by these reforms.
The business chamber have scheduled meetings with a number of workers’ compensation stakeholders to address these criticisms.
Further information:
Source: Insurance News
Title: NSW Treasurer hits back after workers’ comp criticism
Read time: 2 minutes
The elves in our office are busy taking care of business & getting ready for the holiday season.
Our office will be closed from Monday 24th of December 2018 & reopens Thursday 10th January 2019.
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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Julie, Marc & the ABILITY GROUP team
2018
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Independent research shows Mental Illness is the fastest growing workplace injury and is costing hundreds of billions per year.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions has welcomed some recommendations from the Productivity Commission, including no-liability treatment for mental health injuries and claims.
Psychological health and safety should be treated with the same importance as physical health and safety and WHS in the workplace.
ACTU conducted a survey this year and I was found that over 60% of respondents had experienced mental illness due to their employer failing to manage psycho-social hazards in the workplace. It was also found in this survey that nearly half of participants felt their employers were not prepared to support workers experiencing mental illness in the workplace.
For all NSW workers compensation policy holders with a 30 June 2018 Renewal date, the deadline to submit Declaration of Actual Wages was 31 October 2018. If you have missed this date, your submission is now overdue. icare has advised that the policy adjustment process will soon commence for those submitted before this date.