Listing as an assessor of permanent impairment
Part 7.2.1 of the NSW Workers Compensation Guidelines outlines that referrals for assessment of permanent impairment must be to a specialist medical practitioner who:
- has qualifications, training, and experience relevant to the body system being assessed
- has successfully completed training in the evaluation of permanent impairment, and
- is listed on the SIRA website as a trained assessor of permanent impairment with SIRA workers compensation.
SIRA maintains a list of permanent impairment assessors that work in the NSW workers compensation system. SIRA does not appoint, approve, or otherwise endorse these permanent impairment assessors. It is a matter for individual workers, referrers, and their representatives to review the list and identify the assessor they consider most appropriate based on their own individual circumstances. A practitioners registration details on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) website may assist in informing their selection.
These assessors have demonstrated that they meet the requirements for listing by SIRA and have requested that their details be published so they may be contacted for referrals.
Requirements for listing
SIRA may list a practitioner as a trained assessor of permanent impairment if satisfied that they:
- are a medical practitioner with current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra)
- are recognised as a medical specialist and remunerated at specialist rates under Medicare
- have qualifications, training and experience relevant to each body system for which permanent impairment listing is sought, and
- have undertaken the NSW workers compensation core training modules in the evaluation of permanent impairment and been assessed as competent in each body system(s) for which listing is sought.
Practitioners must continue to meet the requirements for listing in order to remain on the list of trained assessors of permanent impairment.
Practitioners who are interested in being listed on SIRA’s website as a trained assessor of permanent impairment can download, complete, and submit a request form. All requests for listing as a trained assessor of permanent impairment must be made to SIRA.
SIRA will consider each request and may or may not approve listing. When assessing a request, SIRA may make enquiries to verify information provided. SIRA will notify the practitioner of the outcome of their request in writing.
The assessment of permanent impairment
Permanent impairment assessments must:
- be conducted in accordance with the NSW workers compensation guidelines for the evaluation of permanent impairment
- comply with all legislation, guidelines and fee schedules in the NSW workers compensation system.