Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Advisory Council

25 August 2023

Annual Report

The planned activities of the Council for the 2023-2024 period were discussed to be included in the 2022-2023 Annual Report. Activities to be included were identified as follows:

  • Monitor the national review of Permanent Impairment guides and if required propose amendments to the NT WorkSafe Guidelines for the evaluation of permanent impairment approved and published by the Work Health Authority.
  • Further investigate the variation of fees charged by Doctors and Allied Health Professionals for injured workers in comparison to patients not within the workers compensation system.
  • Recommend an extension of the number of days required for the completion of a mediation.
  • Review of interpretation of medical, surgical and rehabilitation treatment in relation to a worker, specifically section 49(f) of the Return to Work Act 1986 and the interpretation relating to medical cannabis. Conduct further research into the use of medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids.
  • Review potential options available on increasing the Northern Territory premium pool, particularly pertaining to identifying those employers who should hold a policy but do not.
  • Review options to mitigate the risk and implications of the ICT System used by NT WorkSafe (WIMS) being at end of life.
  • Make recommendation to the Minister regarding the review of the 2015 deemed diseases in Australia from Dr Tim Driscoll’s report and the addition of the identified diseases from the report to be included in the deemed disease list in the Return to Work Regulations 1986 and the removal of Parkinson Disease as recommended by the Report.

ICT System at end of life

The Council discussed the implications of the ICT System used by NT WorkSafe to receive and store critical data for workers compensation being at end of life and not being able to have any updates due to its age.  Council members agreed that this is a critical priority to address as the ageing database is not able to be amended to keep up with the requirements for both jurisdictional and national reporting requirements and will remain on the Council agenda until a solution resolves the issue.

Catholic Church Insurance

The Council were advised that in May 2023, Catholic Church Insurance Ltd (CCI) advised the Authority of their intent to cease offering workers compensation insurance in the Northern Territory on 30 June 2023.  For this reason, the Authority, in its absolute discretion, gives notice that CCI’s approved insurer status is revoked effective 30 June 2023.  The revocation advertisement was placed in the NT News Classifieds as required by the Act, Thursday 3 August 2023.

All current policy holders will continue to have their workers compensation policies honoured by CCI until the date of expiry and CCI will continue to manage existing claims, and any new claims lodged during the period of insurance.

There are no implications to the Scheme.

Next meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for16 November 2023.

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