WorkCover WA has initiated a project to develop Principles and Standards of Practice for Approved Permanent Impairment Assessors (APIAs), who conduct permanent impairment assessments under the Western Australian workers compensation scheme. 

These principles and standards will set out overall service expectations, priority areas, and performance indicators to ensure a consistent and high-quality experience for everyone involved. They're intended to support APIAs in carrying out their roles and responsibilities within the scheme.

The APIA Principles and Standards of Practice will mainly focus on the experiences of workers and employers when using APIA services. They will not cover the technical or medical aspects of the APIA’s work, and they will not replace or change the existing requirements in the WorkCover WA Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.

Similar standards have already been successfully introduced for other key groups, including insurers, self-insurers, workplace rehabilitation providers, and workers' compensation insurance brokers.

WorkCover WA understands the importance of working together and seeking input from others when developing these principles and standards. Engaging with stakeholders early helps ensure everyone has a clear understanding of their roles and contributes to the effective running of the scheme.

Reference Group Membership

To ensure the standards are relevant, practical, and widely supported, WorkCover WA is forming a Reference Group to guide development. The group will include representatives from:

• WorkCover WA
• Insurers
• Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association
• National Insurance Brokers Association
• Experienced APIA doctors
• Leading medical organisations:
• Royal Australasian College of Physicians
• Australian Medical Association
• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
• Australian and New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists

Key responsibilities:

As a Reference Group member, you'll:

• attend a series of meetings to identify key opportunities and challenges
• contribute to the development of a draft document
• support the process of broader stakeholder consultation before the final version is released

This collaborative process has been used successfully in previous projects and helps improve both the quality and acceptance of the final product.

Apply

To apply, submit an expression of interest form (PDF) and CV (5-page limit) to president.AFOEM@racp.edu.au