Edition No.77
This edition was issued on 16 December 2024
Welcome
This is the final edition of PIC News for 2024. It has been a busy year not only with an increase in business-as-usual filings but also with two major programs of work. Firstly, the deployment of Pathway into the Workers Compensation Division in the middle of the year. Secondly, the commencement of the rule 67 amendments, including the 500-page limit, and the associated Pathway enhancements to enable these rule amendments. Both have gone well and for that I thank everybody involved, namely the internal program delivery team, our decision makers and all our tribunal users. Change is never fun, but these developments will mean greater efficiency for all concerned in the years ahead.
Unfortunately, the years’ end is attended upon by some sad news. Long time medical assessor Dr Wing Chan died after a short illness. Dr Chan has been with the Commission and its legacy organisations for over 20 years and is well known to all users as a dedicated medical specialist. The team has penned a splendid obituary which appears below. The Commission extends a heartfelt thanks to Dr Chan for his contributions and offers our condolences to his family and friends.
Congratulations are due for Motor Accidents Division Member Ray Plibersek. Ray has recently been advised of his appointment as acting judge of the Local Court of NSW. This will involve sitting on weekends so Ray will remain to perform his work for the Commission. Well done and good luck Ray!
Finally, I wish everyone involved in the work of the Commission a very peaceful and joyous festive season. See you all in 2025!
Regards,
Judge Gerard Phillips
President
Vale Dr Wing Chan
It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the passing of Doctor Wing Cheong Chan, a long serving Medical Assessor for the Commission and its predecessor agencies for over 20 years.
Dr Chan graduated from Medicine at the University of Dublin in 1974. In 1976, he migrated to Australia and obtained his fellowship from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in 1981. The following year, he commenced working as a General Practitioner and a lecturer for Medicine at Sydney Technology School.
Dr Chan continued his studies in Occupational Medicine at the University of Sydney. In 1989, he obtained his second fellowship from the Australasian College in Occupational Medicine. As a specialist in Occupational Medicine, Dr Chan focused on onsite rehabilitation of employee injuries as well as employees with non-work-related medical conditions.
In 1994, Dr Chan received his third fellowship from the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He continued to practise as a specialist in the Northern Beaches area.
Dr Chan joined the Commission’s predecessor organisations over 20 years ago and has since assessed countless injured people. His professional expertise and field knowledge was momentous and has made a valuable impact on decisions made by the Commission.
Although Dr Chan resigned from the Commission on 1 November 2024, he is and will always be remembered as a kind and accommodating man who was well respected amongst his fellow assessors and Commission staff.
End-of-year shutdown details
Key dates to note:
- The last official sitting day of the Commission is Friday 13 December 2024. However, matters may be listed by exception with Division Head approval during the week of 16 December 2024.
- The Commission’s offices will close at 4.30pm on Friday 20 December 2024.
- There will be no medical assessments or preliminary conferences conducted after Friday 20 December 2024.
- In the Workers Compensation Division, there will be no medical assessment certificates, certificates of determination, consent orders, mediation certificates and medical appeal panel certificates issued between Monday 23 December 2024 and Friday 3 January 2025.
- In the Motor Accidents Division, there will be no medical assessment certificates, medical review panel certificates and certificates/statements of reasons issued between Monday 23 December 2024 and Friday 3 January 2025.
- The Commission's offices will reopen at 8:30am on Monday 6 January 2025.
- Medical assessments will recommence on Monday 6 January 2025.
- Decisions and certificates will be issued from Monday 6 January 2025.
- Preliminary conferences, conciliation/arbitrations, assessment conferences and mediations will recommence on Monday 13 January 2025.
Thanks to the introduction of the Pathway Portal, parties will still be able to submit material via the portal during the shutdown including all applications, associated documents, and appeals. Pathway platform support will still be available during the shutdown.
Anything filed during the shutdown period that is time-sensitive, such as appeals, will be received by the Commission at the time it is entered into the system or the next working day in accordance with rule 26 of the Personal Injury Commission Rules 2021.
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