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The President and Deputy Presidents are the Commission’s presidential members.

Judge Gerard Phillips is the President of the Commission. Judge Phillips works closely with the Principal Registrar and Division Heads to provide strategic leadership to the Commission. He is also 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 Mr Michael Snell and Ms Elizabeth Wood. Mr Geoffrey Parker SC, Ms Kylie Nomchong SC and Mr Michael Perry are Acting Deputy Presidents.

All presidential members hear appeals against decisions made by members in the Workers Compensation Division.

Members are experienced, independent decision-makers who are appointed by the Commission 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.

The Commission's mediators exercise functions in the Workers Compensation Division. They assist parties to resolve work injury damages disputes.

The parties must first participate in mediation.

Mediations can be conducted in Sydney or in a regional location, and can also be conducted 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.

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 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.