About us
The Personal Injury Commission resolves disputes between people injured in motor accidents and workplaces in NSW, insurers and employers.
Established by the Personal Injury Commission Act 2020, we are an independent statutory tribunal within the New South Wales justice system, committed to providing a transparent and independent dispute resolution service.
Resolving disputes justly and efficiently in the shortest time frame is a priority and we work with all parties (injured persons, insurers, and employers, where relevant) to discuss ways of achieving this.
In cases where the parties are not able to agree to a resolution, the Commission will decide the dispute.
If a party is not satisfied with a decision of the Commission, they may seek an appeal or review.
The Commission’s objectives
The objects of the Personal Injury Commission Act 2020 are:
(a) to establish an independent Personal Injury Commission of New South Wales to deal with certain matters under the workers compensation legislation and motor accidents legislation and provide a central registry for that purpose,
(b) to ensure the Commission—
- is accessible, professional and responsive to the needs of all of its users, and
- is open and transparent about its processes, and
- encourages early dispute resolution,
(c) to enable the Commission to resolve the real issues in proceedings justly, quickly, cost effectively and with as little formality as possible,
(d) to ensure that the decisions of the Commission are timely, fair, consistent and of a high quality,
(e) to promote public confidence in the decision-making of the Commission and in the conduct of its members,
(f) to ensure that the Commission—
- publicises and disseminates information concerning its processes, and
- establishes effective liaison and communication with interested parties concerning its processes and the role of the Commission,
(g) to make appropriate use of the knowledge and experience of members and other decision-makers.
The Commission exercises functions in two divisions – the Motor Accidents Division and the Workers Compensation Division.
Our Venues for Dispute Resolution Services
The Personal Injury Commission delivers tribunal services across New South Wales through a mix of physical, virtual and hybrid venues. As a modern tribunal, the Commission has a strong digital and virtual presence to best serve injured people and tribunal users in NSW. See more on the Resources Page.
Our people
Our work is undertaken by the President, Deputy Presidents, Division Heads and Principal Registrar, as well as members, merit reviewers, mediators, medical assessors and legal and operational staff.
President and Deputy Presidents
The President and Deputy Presidents are the Commission’s Presidential members.
- Judge Gerard Phillips is the President of the Commission and works closely with the Principal Registrar and Division Heads to provide strategic leadership. He is responsible for appointing medical assessors, merit reviewers and mediators, determining novel or complex questions of law, issuing procedural directions and other administrative and legal tasks. The President also exercises a variety of functions under legislation which can be delegated to members of the Commission or members of staff.
- The Deputy Presidents are Michael Snell and Elizabeth Wood.
- Geoffrey Parker SC, Kylie Nomchong SC, Michael Perry and Paul Sweeney are Acting Deputy Presidents.
All Presidential members are appointed by the NSW Attorney General and hear appeals against decisions made by members in the Workers Compensation Division .
Division Heads
The Personal Injury Commission is made up of three divisions: Workers Compensation, Motor Accidents and Police Officer Support Scheme each led by a Division Head appointed by the NSW Attorney General to direct the day-to-day business of the division.
- Marie Johns is the Head of the Motor Accidents Division.
- Glenn Capel is the Head of the Workers Compensation Division.
- Josephine Bamber is the Acting Head of the Police Officer Support Scheme.
Principal Registrar
The Principal Registrar provides high-level, executive leadership and strategic advice to the President and assists him to manage the business and affairs of the Commission. This includes responsibility for the Registry and the Commission’s staff and resources.
- Marianne Christmann is the Principal Registrar of the Personal Injury Commission.
Members
Members are experienced, independent decision-makers who are appointed by the Attorney General to help resolve disputes. They have a detailed understanding of the workers compensation system and/or the motor accidents system, as well as the interests of all involved.
Members conduct Commission proceedings in a way that is fair to all parties. At each stage, the member will encourage and assist parties to resolve their dispute by finding a solution that is agreeable to everyone involved. If the parties cannot agree on a solution, the member will decide the dispute after hearing the submissions of the parties and considering the evidence filed.
Members also sit on appeal and review panels which determine appeals and reviews of decisions made by medical assessors and merit reviewers.
Principal members
Josephine Bamber
John Harris
Senior members
Elizabeth Beilby
Kerry Haddock
Brett Williams
General members
Full time
| Workers Compensation Division | Motor Accidents Division | Dual appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Burge | Belinda Cassidy | Susan McTegg |
| Rachel Homan | Alexander Bolton | Terence O’Riain |
| John Isaksen | Bianca Montgomery-Hribar | |
| Jaqueline Snell | ||
| Gaius Whiffin | ||
| Lea Drake |
Sessional
| Workers Compensation Division | Motor Accidents Division | Dual appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Brett Batchelor | Stephen Boyd-Boland | Michael Inglis |
| Diana Benk | Terrence Broomfield | Anthony Scarcella |
| Kathryn Camp | Maurice Castagnet | Cameron Thompson |
| Marshal Douglas | Allan Cowley | Jeremy Lum |
| Lea Drake | David Ford | |
| Karen Garner | Hugh Macken | |
| Anne Gracie | Elizabeth Medland | |
| Adam Halstead | Bridie Nolan | |
| Sophie Jones | Gary Patterson | |
| Parnel McAdam | Shana Radnan | |
| Catherine McDonald | Terence Stern | |
| Michael McGrowdie | Elyse White | |
| Deborah Moore | Ray Plibersek | |
| Michael Moore | ||
| Jane Peacock | ||
| Richard Perrignon | ||
| Carolyn Rimmer | ||
| Fiona Seaton | ||
| Mitchell Strachan | ||
| Paul Sweeney | ||
| Jill Toohey | ||
| John Turner | ||
| Michael Wright | ||
| Christopher (John) Wynyard | ||
| Phillip Carr |
Merit reviewers
The Commission's merit reviewers are appointed by the President and exercise functions in the Motor Accidents Division. They determine statutory benefit disputes under Schedule 2, 1 of the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017. Some merit reviewers also hold a dual appointment as a member of the Motor Accidents Division.
| Josephine Bamber | Michael Inglis | Katherine Ruschen |
| Alexander Bolton | Hugh Macken | Anthony Scarcella |
| Stephen Boyd-Boland | Susan McTegg | Terence Stern |
| Terrence Broomfield | Elizabeth Medland | Cameron Thompson |
| Belinda Cassidy | Bridie Nolan | Elyse White |
| Maurice Castagnet | Terence O'Riain | Brett Williams |
| Allan Cowley | Gary Patterson | |
| David Ford | Raymond Plibersek | |
| John Harris | Shana Radnan |
Mediators
The Commission's mediators are appointed by the President and exercise functions in the Workers Compensation Division. They assist parties to resolve work injury damages disputes.
The parties must first participate in mediation which can be conducted in Sydney, a regional location or via video. During the mediation, the mediator attempts to bring the parties to agreement. If the parties are not able to agree, the worker may then commence court proceedings.
| Ross Bell | Kathy Ireland | Philippa O'Dea |
| Lara Bishkov | John Ireland | Richard Perrignon |
| Laurence Boulle | Katherine Johnson | Anthony Scarcella |
| Calvin (Jak) Callaway | Bianca Keys | Paul Sweeney |
| Philip Carr | Stephen Lancken | John Tancred |
| Janice Connelly | Margaret McCue | John Whelan |
| Catherine Davidson | Michael McGrowdie | Christopher Wood |
| Geri Ettinger | John McGruther | |
| David Flynn | Garry McIlwaine | |
| Robert Foggo | Christopher Messenger | |
| Nina Harding | Dennis Nolan |
Medical assessors
Medical assessors are highly experienced medical and allied health practitioners who are qualified in a range of specialities. They conduct medical assessments to determine certain aspects of a dispute, such as assessing the degree of permanent impairment resulting from an injury. They can also provide decisions about an injured person’s medical condition, whether the injury is a threshold injury, for the provision of medical treatment and their fitness for employment.
Medical assessors are engaged directly by the Commission and are independent of any party to a dispute. They are appointed by the President to provide independent assessments and do not give clinical advice or provide treatment to the injured person.
Medical assessors also sit on medical appeal panels and medical review panels. Medical assessors may be appointed to one or both divisions of the Commission.
The list of medical assessors and the divisions they are appointed are provided by medical specialty and by the medical assessor’s surname.
Personal Injury Commission staff
The Commission’s staff are public sector employees employed by the Department of Customer Service and provide legal, operational and administrative support to ensure the Commission can deliver efficient and effective dispute resolution services.
Employment opportunities
The Personal Injury Commission is committed to finding the best people to deliver excellence in dispute resolution services for the people of New South Wales.
Working at the Commission is a unique opportunity to have a real impact, at a time when people may be experiencing difficult circumstances. We provide interesting work opportunities in an innovative organisation that values diversity, inclusion, and fairness.
Employment opportunities are advertised on I work for NSW website. Appointments as members, mediators, merit reviewers and medical specialists are advertised on the Commission’s web site and in the Persona lnjury Commission News.
Disclaimer
The Commission cannot warrant and does not represent that the material which appears on our website or any linked sites is complete, current, reliable or free from error.
The Personal Injury Commission also cannot accept any responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense that might be incurred as a result of the use of, or reliance upon, the materials which appear on this or any linked sites on our website.
Privacy, Information Access and Copyright
For information relating to the Commission's policies on privacy, access to information and copyright, see the relevant section on the Resources Page.