The Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023 which comes into effect on 1 July 2024 is a complete rewrite of the current Act to make it very clear who it applies to, when decisions will be made, what entitlements are available, and how and when claims will be closed - by recovery, return to work or settlement. By September, there should be some clarity on the way it operates as well as an awareness of teething problems. Take this opportunity to check in on what changes you need to make, and gain guidance on some of the key legal issues you will face with a work injury claims practice.

Presenters

Chris Rimmer, Partner, Sparke Helmore
Chris Rimmer completed his law degree at the University of Western Australia in 1994 and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1996 and admitted to the High Court of Australia in 2001. Chris has been a partner at Jackson McDonald, Jarman McKenna (which he helped found) and Sparke Helmore for over 20 years. Chris has practised insurance law for nearly 25 years providing advice to insurers and their insureds across all classes of insurance including workers' compensation, public and product liability, CTP and professional indemnity. Chris provides pre-contractual advice to insurance brokers and their clients pertaining to insurance and indemnity risks and regularly appears as Counsel in the Arbitration Service, the District Court and in the Court of Appeal. Chris has a busy workers’ compensation practice and is well qualified to speak on his topic of ‘Establishing employer negligence’.


Dr Neil Ozanne, Consultant Occupational Physician, OccuWest
Dr Ozanne is a Consultant Occupational Physician (Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine – Royal Australasian College of Physicians), and a WorkCover WA Approved Medical Specialist for permanent impairment assessment. He combines his specialist Occupational Physician experience with his background of over 25 years specialist General Practice experience to provide a comprehensive, holistic, biopsychosocial approach to undertake Independent Medical Assessments including Permanent Impairment Assessments.


Mary Browne, Legal Practice Director, Special Counsel, Stephen Browne
Mary Browne is the Legal Practice Director of Stephen Browne Lawyers. She leads a dedicated team of compensation law experts, focused on achieving outstanding outcomes for their clients. While she has a keen interest in workers’ compensation matters, she also has experience with motor vehicle accident claims, public liability claims and criminal injuries compensation. Mary has more than a decade’s experience working in the legal industry and was admitted to legal practice in 2013. She studied law at Murdoch University, graduating with distinction. Mary pursued a career in law given it combined her strong verbal advocacy skills and her desire to make a difference in the lives of injured, and often less fortunate, people. In her personal life, Mary is a qualified yoga instructor, enjoys Pilates and spending time with her Cavoodle, Boris. She speaks conversational Polish, with a basic reading ability. She is a member of both the Law Society of Western Australia and the Australian Lawyers Alliance.


Adam Stewart, Barrister, John Toohey Chambers
Adam is an experienced advocate practising in personal injury, workers compensation, public liability, professional negligence and employment related matters. He has also advised and appeared in motor vehicle claims proceedings, total and permanent disability disputes and criminal injuries compensation claims. Prior to joining John Toohey Chambers in 2019, Adam was a Senior Solicitor at a boutique firm where he primarily practiced in personal injury and workers compensation disputes.