Comcare has announced that the processes for approving the providers of workplace rehabilitation services is being reviewed with a Discussion Paper published to attract comment.
Chair of the committee of the heads of all compensation authorities in Australia and New Zealand, Comcare Chief Jennifer Taylor (pictured), said the framework for approving the providers had not been reviewed for more than a decade.
Ms Taylor said the committee had adopted a nationally consistent framework for approving the providers in 2010 but a lot had changed since then.
“Since its commencement there have been significant changes in the economy and the working environment,” Ms Taylor said.
“A number of jurisdictions have also implemented major legislative changes that impact on scheme design or approaches to injury management and regulation.”
She said the workplace rehabilitation profession had also changed in recent years.
“The release of this discussion paper is the first stage in the review process.”
Ms Taylor said a threshold issue for the review was whether there was “‘appetite for the continuation of the framework in its current form, or whether it should be modified or even discontinued”.
“The discussion paper aims to capture industry views about the scope and application of the (framework).”
She said written comments or submissions on the Discussion Paper should be sent to [email protected] by the closing date 17 August.
The 23-page Discussion Paper can be accessed at this PS News link.
