Access to our Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne offices is currently restricted. To visit us at these locations, call 1300 366 979 to arrange an appointment.

Claims Manager Forum

For: Employers and managers Advocates

These free online events provide an opportunity for claims managers and other scheme stakeholders to discuss matters of common interest under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act).

Forums are open to all claims managers and decision makers administering the SRC Act as well as other interested parties.

Upcoming forums

The next Claims Manager Forum will be scheduled soon. Please contact SchemePolicyandDesign@comcare.gov.au if you would like to attend.

Past forums

Monday 23 September 2024

2.00pm - 3.30pm AEST

Overview of the Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations

This forum provided an opportunity for claims managers and other scheme stakeholders to gain an understanding of the Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations 2024 that was registered as a legislative instrument on 17 September 2024.

The forum was open to all claims managers and decision makers administering the SRC Act as well as other interested parties.

Participants were presented with a detailed discussion on how the Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations applies to section 57 medical examination determinations.

The forum was recorded and can be made available, along with a copy of the presentation slides, via email request to SchemePolicyandDesign@comcare.gov.au.

Thursday 5 September 2024

2.00pm - 3.30pm AEST

Participants heard:

  • an update on scheme significant litigation
  • a discussion of the Claims Management implications of recent workers’ compensation cases
  • an update on the SRC Act review
  • a review of Help-Desk queries received in 2023–24
  • a Comcare scheme update.

Thursday 14 March 2024

Participants heard:

  • an overview of amendments to the SRC Act and Regulations as a result of the Closing Loopholes Amending Act.
  • a workshop on the introduction of decision-making timeframes.
  • an update and discussion on the development of the Guide for Arranging Rehabilitation Assessments and Requiring Examinations.
  • an update on scheme significant litigation.
  • a Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and Comcare scheme update.
  • Thursday 7 December 2023

    Participants heard:

    • updates on scheme significant litigation.
    • a discussion to help claims managers identify indicators of potential fraud within our workers’ compensation scheme.
    • a Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and Comcare scheme update.

    Thursday 7 September 2023

    Participants heard:

    • updates on scheme significant litigation.
    • a discussion of Comcare’s new scheme guidance on claims for injuries sustained at the boundary of a place of work and claims for injuries and disease arising from home-based work.
    • a Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and Comcare scheme update.

    Thursday 8 June 2023

    Participants heard:

    • a presentation from Beyond Blue on financial wellbeing resources for front line employees, such as claims managers, whose clients may be experiencing financial hardship
    • updates on scheme significant litigation and claims management implications
    • a Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and Comcare scheme update.

    Thursday 2 March 2023

    Participants heard:

    • updates on scheme significant litigation and claims management implications
    • information about the new Guide to the Assessment of the Degree of Permanent Impairment (Edition 3.0)
    • a Comcare scheme update.

    Thursday 8 December 2022

    Participants heard about:

    • stakeholder perspectives in RTW - key messages from the Comcare-Mental Health Professionals' Network webinar
    • a Comcare Scheme Update
    • the results of the 2021–2022 Claims Manager Forum evaluation
    • updates on scheme significant litigation and claims management implications.

    Thursday 22 September 2022

    Participants heard about:

    • an update on recent developments in rehabilitation management
    • a discussion of the difference between ‘injury’ and ‘disease’
    • updates on scheme significant litigation matters and claims management implications.

    Thursday 23 June 2022

    The main topics included:
    • an update on Medicinal Cannabis including recent or emerging evidence and Comcare learnings
    • an overview of results from the National Return to Work Survey
    • updates on scheme significant litigation matters, with a focus on the recent decision of the Full Federal Court in Wuth v Comcare and its operational impacts.

    Thursday 17 March 2022

    The main topics were:

    • Significant litigation matters update
    • Operational discussion of litigation matters
    • COVID-19 vaccine claims scheme – FAQs
    • Scheme update

    Thursday 2 December 2021

    The main topics were:

    • Significant litigation matters update
    • Operational discussion of litigation matters
    • Education presentation – release of on-line SRC Act training courses
    • Scheme update

    Thursday 30 September 2021

    This forum provided an opportunity for claims managers and other scheme stakeholders to hear updates from Comcare's Legal Advice and Strategy team on scheme significant litigation matters, with a particular focus on the operational effects for decision makers.

    Thursday 24 June 2021

    This forum provided an opportunity for claims managers and other scheme stakeholders to discuss matters of common interest under the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act).

    Thursday 18 March 2021

    Claims managers in the Comcare scheme virtually attended the first forum for 2021. Scheme Policy and Design provided an overview on initiatives and legislative updates including applying the interval and interlude test, and the application of Reasonable Administrative Action exclusions.

    Thursday 3 December 2020

    Claims managers in the Comcare scheme virtually attended the final forum for 2020. 
    Attendees heard from Comcare's Legal Advice and Strategy team with updates on significant litigation matters, with a particular focus on determining the work boundary when considering journey claims.

    For past forum enquiries, email forums@comcare.gov.au.

    Page last reviewed: 23 September 2024

    Comcare
    GPO Box 9905, Canberra, ACT 2601
    1300 366 979 | www.comcare.gov.au

    Date printed 12 Oct 2024

    https://www.comcare.gov.au/about/news-events/events/claims-manager-forum