Covid-19 Response

The Personal Injury Commission's response to COVID-19

The Personal Injury Commission is continuing to deliver important services for injured workers and injured road users during the coronavirus pandemic. It is important that our people, those who use our services, our decision makers and our stakeholders are protected. The Commission is monitoring the Covid-19 situation and continues to respond quickly to changes in pandemic conditions as they happen.

Medical assessments

Medical assessments are being managed in the following way:

  • In-person medical assessments resumed on 21 February 2022.
  • The Commission will continue conducting the majority of psychiatric medical assessments via videoconference. In instances where a psychiatric examination must proceed in person, it will be conditional on the requirements of Procedural Direction PIC 11 as for all in-person examinations.
  • Other assessments that can proceed by videoconference will be arranged with agreement of the parties and approval from the Medical Assessor.
  • Interpreter services, if required, will be provided by telephone or videoconference.

From 1 February 2022 medical assessments must be conducted in compliance with the:

These have been refreshed to include the requirement for claimants/workers attending in-person medical assessments to submit to a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) administered at the premises of the Medical Assessor, shortly before the scheduled assessment. The claimant/worker must also be vaccinated with at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination, with the second dose undertaken at least 14 days before the date of the in-person assessment. Support persons will only be able to attend in person in exceptional circumstances, with approval by the Commission President or Principal Registrar.

Hearings

  • In most cases, hearings are continuing to be conducted virtually.
  • A limited number of in-person hearings are being conducted at the Commission’s premises.
  • Note that hearings may need to be rescheduled should any of the participants fall ill.
  • Legal representatives are requested to advise the Commission at the earliest opportunity if a hearing will not be able to proceed as scheduled due to participants being ill so that it can be rescheduled.
  • If an in-person hearing is sought for a particular matter, an application needs to be made to the relevant Commission Division Head. Procedural Direction PIC10 – Hearings during COVID-19 sets out the circumstances that need to be addressed, although parties can bring any matter to the Division Head’s attention when making such an application.

Lodging applications and documents

Personal Injury Commission office

  • The Commission’s Registry counter on Level 21 at 1 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst NSW is open Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:30pm (except public holidays).
  • Read more about how to contact the Commission.
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