About us
The Personal Injury Commission resolves disputes between people injured in motor accidents or workplaces, employers and insurers in New South Wales. On 27 September 2024, the Commission expanded its functions to include police officers injured in the line of duty as part of the new Police Officer Support Scheme.
Established by the Personal Injury Commission Act 2020, the Commission is 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 the Commission works 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 three divisions – the Motor Accidents Division, the Workers Compensation Division and the Police Officer Support Scheme 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 Commission's 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: Motor Accidents, Workers Compensation and Police Officer Support Scheme. Each is 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 division.
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.
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 | Motor Accidents | Police Officer Support Scheme | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Bolton | x | ||
| Cameron Burge | x | ||
| Belinda Cassidy | x | ||
| Lea Drake | x | ||
| Rachel Homan | x | ||
| John Isaksen | x | x | |
| Susan McTegg | x | x | |
| Bianca Montgomery-Hribar | x | ||
| Terence O’Riain | x | x | |
| Jaqueline Snell | x | ||
| Gaius Whiffin | x |
Sessional
| Workers Compensation | Motor Accidents | Police Officer Support Scheme | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brett Batchelor | x | ||
| Diana Benk | x | ||
| Stephen Boyd-Boland | x | ||
| Terrence Broomfield | x | ||
| Kathryn Camp | x | ||
| Phillip Carr | x | ||
| Maurice Castagnet | x | ||
| Marshal Douglas | x | ||
| David Ford | x | ||
| Karen Garner | x | ||
| Anne Gracie | x | ||
| Adam Halstead | x | ||
| Michael Inglis | x | x | |
| Jeremy Lum | x | x | |
| Hugh Macken | x | ||
| Elizabeth Medland | x | ||
| Deborah Moore | x | ||
| Michael Moore | x | ||
| Parnel McAdam | x | ||
| Catherine McDonald | x | ||
| Michael McGrowdie | x | ||
| Bridie Nolan | x | ||
| Gary Patterson | x | ||
| Jane Peacock | x | ||
| Richard Perrignon | x | x | |
| Ray Plibersek | x | ||
| Shana Radnan | x | ||
| Carolyn Rimmer | x | ||
| Fiona Seaton | x | ||
| Anthony Scarcella | x | x | |
| Terence Stern | x | ||
| Mitchell Strachan | x | x | |
| Cameron Thompson | x | x | |
| John Turner | x | ||
| Elyse White | x | ||
| Michael Wright | x | ||
| Christopher (John) Wynyard | x |
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.
| Alexander Bolton | Michael Inglis | Raymond Plibersek |
| Stephen Boyd-Boland | Jeremy Lum | Shana Radnan |
| Terrence Broomfield | Hugh Macken | Katherine Ruschen |
| Philip Carr | Bianca Montgomery-Hribar | Anthony Scarcella |
| Belinda Cassidy | Susan McTegg | Terence Stern |
| Maurice Castagnet | Elizabeth Medland | Cameron Thompson |
| Allan Cowley | Bridie Nolan | Elyse White |
| David Ford | Terence O'Riain | Brett Williams |
| John Harris | Gary Patterson |
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 | Danae Harvey | Philippa O'Dea |
| Lara Bishkov | Kathy Ireland | Richard Perrignon |
| Laurence Boulle | Katherine Johnson | Anthony Scarcella |
| Calvin (Jak) Callaway | Bianca Keys | Paul Sweeney |
| Philip Carr | Stephen Lancken | John Tancred |
| Joseph Catanzariti | Margaret McCue | John Whelan |
| Janice Connelly | Michael McGrowdie | Christopher Wood |
| Catherine Davidson | John McGruther | |
| Geri Ettinger | Garry McIlwaine | |
| David Flynn | Christopher Messenger | |
| Robert Foggo | Michael Mills | |
| Nina Harding | Dennis Nolan |
Medical assessors
Medical assessors are highly experienced medical and allied health practitioners who are qualified in a range of specialties. 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 any of the three divisions of the Commission.
The list of medical assessors and the divisions they are appointed are provided by medical specialty.
If you are a qualified practitioner in a frequently utilised medical specialty and would like to join our panel. Please email [email protected].
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 Personal Injury Commission News.
Medical and allied health practitioners: if you are a qualified practitioner in a frequently utilised medical specialty and would like to join our panel of medical assessors. Please email [email protected].
Disclaimer
The Personal Injury 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 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.