Our processes have been designed to allow you to reach settlement at any stage.
Dispute Resolution Process
If you want to start proceedings in a workers compensation dispute you need to make a formal application with us.
Once a matter has been registered with us there is a formal exchange of information by all parties – the injured worker, the employer, the insurer.
The resolution process may involve some, or all, of the following:
- We may assign an arbitrator to your dispute and arrange a telephone conference.
- Disputes regarding the degree of permanent impairment may be referred directly to an Approved Medical Specialist.
For more information on registering a dispute, click here.
Telephone conference
A telephone conference involves you, your representative, the employer, the insurer and the insurer’s legal representative and is conducted by the arbitrator.
The arbitrator will ask all parties about the dispute, identify the issues and encourage you and the employer to reach an agreement.
If you reach an agreement the arbitrator may be asked to record your agreement in a Certificate which we will issue to you.
If you do not reach an agreement, we may need to arrange a conciliation/arbitration hearing or medical assessment.
For more information on the telephone conference, click here.
Conciliation conference/arbitration hearing
If there is no settlement during the telephone conference, the arbitrator may arrange a face-to-face meeting between the parties, called the conciliation conference.
At the conciliation conference, the arbitrator explores the possibility of reaching an agreement about the dispute.
If you reach an agreement during the conference, the arbitrator may be asked to record the agreement in a Certificate which we will issue to you. If you are unable to reach an agreement about the dispute, the arbitrator will end the conference and give all participants a short break. After the break, the arbitrator will start an arbitration hearing.
For more information on the conciliation conference, click here.
Arbitration hearing
The arbitration hearing is informal but is sound recorded.
The arbitration hearing results in the arbitrator making a legally binding decision about the dispute.
The arbitrator may tell you the decision at the end of the arbitration hearing, or more usually, a Certificate of Determination and Statement of Reasons will be sent to you shortly after the hearing.
For more information on the arbitration hearing, click here.
Reaching a decision
You can make an agreement with the other parties at any time before the arbitrator makes a decision. If you are unable to come to agreement, the arbitrator will make a decision at the arbitration hearing.
For more information on reaching a decision, click here.
If you are ready to lodge a dispute and would like a step by step guide, click here.
Do you have any questions? Please contact us
Back to Summary of our processes