Overview
Legislation
Comcare is a Commonwealth statutory authority established under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act) and covered by the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC Act). Comcare administers the Commonwealth’s workers’ compensation scheme under the SRC Act and also administers the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 (OHS(CE) Act).
Comcare also provides secretariat, policy and legislative support to the Seafarers’ Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority in administering the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992, the Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993, the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Levy Act 1992 and the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Levy Collection Act 1992.
During 2003 – 04, Comcare reported to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Kevin Andrews MP, and undertook a range of activities under the auspices of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.
Role
Comcare works in partnership with its customers to reduce the human and financial costs
of workplace injuries and disease. Comcare achieves this by
- improving the safety and rehabilitation of employees in the Commonwealth jurisdiction and the compensation services we provide
- engaging our stakeholders and customers in achieving that improvement
- supporting our people to enable them to best contribute to improving our business.
Comcare undertakes both regulatory and claims management activities in relation to Commonwealth employees, in accordance with the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act) and the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 (OHS(CE) Act). A key role undertaken by Comcare is the setting of premiums and regulatory contributions for the Australian Government and ACT Government.
Comcare’s regulatory activities cover the occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation functions for the Commonwealth as a whole, while its claims management functions cover premium paying agencies, including the ACT Government, and management of ‘pre-premium’ claims (ie claims for Australian Government agencies, excluding the Australian Defence Force and licensees, with a date of injury before July 1989).
Comcare provides advice to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations on issues relating to the administration of the Commonwealth’s occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation frameworks.
Comcare supports the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission in exercising the Commission’s functions and powers. Broadly, these relate to regulation under the SRC Act and the OHS(CE) Act.
Comcare also provides support services to the Seafarers’ Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority to assist in the regulation of the Seacare scheme for workers’ compensation, rehabilitation and occupational health and safety.
The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission
The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (the Commission) is established under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act). The Commission is a statutory body with regulatory functions in relation to Comcare and other authorities which determine workers’ compensation claims under the Commonwealth scheme. The Commission also has regulatory functions under the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 (OHS(CE) Act).
The Commission administers the regulatory functions of the SRC Act and the OHS(CE) Act,
other than those functions ascribed to Comcare.
The major functions of the Commission are to
- provide advice to the Minister in relation to the SRC Act and the OHS(CE) Act
- determine applications by Commonwealth authorities and eligible corporations wishing to self-insure or manage their own claims under licence
- provide strategic direction for occupational health and safety in the Commonwealth jurisdiction and ensure compliance with the OHS(CE) Act
- develop general policy direction for scheme administrators on the operation of the SRC Act
- ensure, as far as practicable, no inconsistency in the administrative practices and procedures used by scheme administrators
- act as a review body for premiums and regulatory contributions.
The SRC Act provides for the Commission to have eleven members. Each member is appointed
by the Governor-General. Members other than the Chairman and Comcare’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) may appoint a deputy, subject to the Minister’s approval. A member, other than Comcare’s CEO, holds office on a part-time basis for a term, not longer than three years, specified in the instrument
of appointment. Members are eligible for reappointment.
In accordance with the SRC Act Comcare provides funding and administrative support to the Commission.
The Commission produces a separate annual report that is available on Comcare’s website
at www.comcare.gov.au.
Organisational structure
Comcare has been structured in such a way as to recognise the different activities involved in occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation. Comcare’s senior management structure consists of the Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and five General Managers.
The following diagram shows the structure during 2003 – 04.
Diagram 1: Comcare organisational structure
Strategic plan
Vision: Australia’s Safest Workplaces
Purpose:
Work in partnership with our customers to reduce the human and financial costs
of workplace injuries and disease.
Values:
Comcare expects everyone within the organisation to uphold the APS Values
and the Code of Conduct. Within that framework, we will particularly
- accept responsibility and accountability for our actions at work
- contribute to the full extent of our knowledge, skills and abilities, and acknowledge the effort of others
- continue to improve the quality and service orientation of all our activities.
Key result areas
KRA 1:
Improve the safety and rehabilitation of employees in the Commonwealth jurisdiction and the compensation services we provide.
Strategies: Using the full range of Comcare’s services, develop strategies to
- reduce the number of injuries in Commonwealth employment
- reduce the time off work for those who are injured
- develop best practice injury prevention and management systems
for the Commonwealth - ensure that long tail claims are managed effectively.
KRA 2:
Engage our stakeholders and customers in the process
of achieving that improvement.
Strategies: Strategically, using the full range of Comcare’s services to
- actively work with employers to implement best practice injury prevention and management systems
- communicate professionally, effectively and appropriately with stakeholders
- provide high quality injury prevention and management products including consultancies, training and systems improvement tools to improve injury management within the jurisdiction.
KRA 3:
Support our people to enable them to best contribute to continuously improving our business.
Strategies:
Using the full range of Comcare’s services, actively develop and implement strategies to
- ensure that all internal systems actively support the achievement of business outcomes
- improve internal communication, performance management and feedback systems
- ensure the recruitment and retention of professional, highly skilled staff
- ensure sound financial management and governance.