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26th Annual National Workers’ Compensation Summit

Australia’s leading platform for legislative updates and workers’ compensation case studies

1-2 April 2025 | Swissotel Sydney

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overview

The way in which we work is changing, and so too is the place, and how often we work there. Automation is increasing, new forms of work are emerging and hybrid workplaces are now commonplace. One constant though is that employees continue to be injured carrying out their work.

The 26th Annual Workers’ Compensation Summit will look at the evolving workplace and assess how current workers’ compensation schemes reflect modern times. How well do schemes cater to psychological injuries, and how effective are workplace well-being programs in preventing harm? As the political landscape changes, we will analyse WHS policy development and assess their likely impact on workers’ compensation and the health and safety of all workers, irrespective of how, when, and where they work.

Speakers

Mandy Young

Chief Executive, State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA)

Jason Lardelli

Executive Director, Return to Work Victoria, WorkSafe Victoria

Darren Smith

Founder, Coaching Development AUS

Joanne Bartley

Injury Prevent Manager, iCare NSW

Katie Giddins

General Manager NI Corporate Claims Operations, EML

Andrew Douglas

Managing Director, FWC Lawyers

Jordan Landy

Branch Manager and Occupational Therapist, APM WorkCare

Cassandra Frei

Chief Growth Officer, Honeysuckle Health

Dr Paula Conroy

Founder & CEO, Insight Health Advisory

Dr David Brentnall

Managing Director, Axis

Karli Edgerton

Manager, Health & Wellbeing, Eagers Automotive

Rachael Ford

Manager Policy & Regulation, Workers Compensation, Suncorp

Gift Musiwa

WHS Manager & After-Hours Manager, Lakeview Private Hospital

Rhea Mercado

Healthcare Humanist, The Intelligent Rebellion

Hugo Rourke

Co - Founder & COO, Perx Health

Fiona Hammond

Director of Enterprise, Perx Health

Ryan Gallagher

Head of Data, AI & Research, Honeysuckle Health

Lexie McCullagh

Manager, EML

Ben Humphreys

Regional Manager – NSW and ACT, Rehabilitation Counsellor, APM Work Care

Dr Danh Tran

Occupational Physician, CEO and Founder, InjuryEX, ImpairEX, EMREx and Employment Medicine

Charlotte Jameson

Wellbeing, Leadership and Culture Specialist, Wellbeing Gets Real

Brianna Cattanach

National Manager Mental Health Strategy and Delivery, Allianz

Chris Rymer

Head of Healthcare, People Risk Claims, QBE Australia

Agenda

9:00 am

OPENING | Opening remarks from Chair

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT REFORMS

9:05 am

KEYNOTE ADDRESS| SIRA Updates for 2025

Mandy Young, Chief Executive, State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA)

9:35 am

  • Exploring the complexities of state-specific regulations and interventions in workers compensation schemes.
  • Highlighting effective state initiatives and strategies that could inform a unified national approach.
  • Identifying strategies to simplify obligations and ensure consistent workers compensation coverage across state borders.

10:15 am

KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Review & Performance of the Scheme Post Legislative Reform Industry

Jason Lardelli, Executive Director, Return to Work Victoria, WorkSafe Victoria

10:45 am

Morning Tea & Networking Break

11:15 am

  • Long-term unemployment harms health in compensable settings.
  • IPTC advocates fair, efficient injury compensation systems.
  • Strategies to integrate psychosocial data and remove recovery barriers.
  • Psychosocial factors exert a strong influence over work and health outcomes.
  • Emphasises fairness, collaboration, proactive risk management.

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

11:45 am

  • Leveraging AI and Automation – How emerging technologies are streamlining claims processing, improving accuracy, and enhancing claimant experiences.
  • Data-Driven Insights – The role of predictive analytics and real-time monitoring in reducing risks, preventing injuries, and optimizing return-to-work strategies.

12:15 pm

Lunch and Networking break

1:15 pm

  • Driving Personalised Recovery Journeys: Discover how AI and automation are integrated into Honeysuckle Health’s Injury Support Program to provide tailored support, enhancing recovery and return-to-work outcomes for injured workers.
  • Smarter Insights, Faster Decisions: See how advanced analytics and automation streamline case management, enabling proactive interventions and reducing administrative workloads.
  • Innovating the Future of Care: Gain insights into emerging AI-driven innovations, showcasing how predictive models and digital tools are shaping the future of injury management and setting new benchmarks in workers’ compensation.

1:45 pm

  • The importance of supporting injured workers in adhering to their recovery plans to improve outcomes.
  • Challenges with traditional approaches, which often leave claimants overwhelmed and disengaged.
  • Common misconceptions about digital solutions in workers’ compensation, including concerns about complexity, cost, and workforce fit.
  • QBE’s approach: implementing a simple, scalable digital recovery program to keep claimants on track.
  • Insights from QBE and Perx Health on how a digital-first strategy accelerates recovery, reduces claim costs, and enhances satisfaction—without adding operational burden.

2:15 pm

  • The liability assessment in a work injury claim is done way too late, when the person has reached maximum medical improvement at the end of the claim. This is often 2 and more years after the injury and is known in the industry as a Whole Person Impairment Assessment.
  • This delay creates significant uncertainties and most importantly difficulties for all stakeholders to make the right decisions in the claim assessment, medical treatment and occupational rehabilitation.
  • The late assessment information and consequently a late claim data is not very helpful for risk analysis compare to a live data
  • Innovations are needed for a systematic improvement.

2:45 pm

Afternoon Tea and Networking Break

EARLY INTERVENTION

3:15 pm

  • Holistic BPS Approach – Traditional BPS models focus on personal factors, but true recovery requires addressing workplace, treatment, and scheme-related environmental influences.
  • Data-Driven Early Intervention – Allianz’s My Journey tool leverages BPS data to identify at-risk workers early, guiding case managers in providing tailored, evidence-based support.
  • Strategic Risk Management – The BPS Risk Management Handbook and Customers Experiencing Vulnerability Framework ensure consistent, structured interventions for diverse claimant challenges.
  • Proven Outcomes & Case Study Success – A targeted intervention program reduced psychological claim costs, cut claim duration by 133 days, and improved return-to-work rates.
  • Future Innovations – Advancements in AI, data utilization, value-based healthcare, and scheme redesign will further enhance recovery outcomes and drive meaningful industry-wide change.

3:45 pm

  • Benefits of early injury management Intervention in workers compensation (including non-work related illnesses/injuries)
  • What program has worked for our organisation to reduce workplace injuries/illness that covert to workers compensation claim (Physical and Psychological Claims)
  • What our organisation has learnt from our strategy over the years
  • Partnering with other service providers in an early intervention program
  • Importance of management commitment in early intervention

4:15 pm

4:55 pm

END OF DAY ONE & CLOSING REMARKS

6:00 pm

DINNER | Ten Stories, 68 Market Street, Sydney, 2000

9:00 am

OPENING | Opening remarks from Chair

Karli Edgerton, Manager, Health & Wellbeing, Eagers Automotive

INJURY MANAGEMENT & RETURN TO WORK PROGRAMS

9:05 am

Injury Prevention

Joanne Bartley, Injury Prevent Manager, iCare NSW

9:35 am

  • Understand why crisis management is essential for senior leaders with a focus on preparation, prevention, and self-awareness to navigate both physical and mental challenges in uncertain times.
  • Learn how the BICRISIS model was developed through real-life experiences to provide practical tools for managing crises, including injury management, rehabilitation, and fostering a safe return to work.
  • Gain actionable insights into the key steps leaders can use to resolve crises, support recovery, and ensure effective leadership through complex situations.

10:05 am

  • Why communication is so important when it comes to injury management and health and wellbeing
  • Different types and methods of communication
  • Lived examples of effective communication styles and case files

10:35 am

Morning Tea & Networking Break

11:05 am

  • The three key success factors for early injury management
  • How to identify high risk individuals for RTW, and the benefits of matched care
  • The crucial data you may not be collecting but is essential for preparing for an AI or large-scale data project.

11:35 am

  • Explore the National Return to Work Strategy (NRTWS) and principles
  • Reviewing the key action areas and considerations for additional support

12:05 pm

12:45 pm

Lunch and Networking break

1:45 pm

  • Trust and connection, a bridge between people and organisations -Discussing Psychological Safety & Loneliness
  • Accountability conversations & transparency -Discussing Rock’s SCARF Model
  • Supporting the whole team through the transition -Discussing our nervous systems- what do we need now?

LEGAL & ETHICAL CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY

2:30 pm

  • Delays or disputes in the claims process can have ethical implications, as injured workers may face financial hardships while awaiting resolution.
  • Balancing the need for thorough investigations with respect for an individual’s privacy rights.
  • Determining appropriate and ethical standards for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

3:15 pm

END OF DAY TWO & CLOSING REMARKS | Afternoon Tea

Sponsors

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exhibitors

Pricing

Packages Price
2 Day Conference$3995+GST
Extras Price
Additional Dinner $350+GST
Packages Price
2 Day Conference$2995+GST
Extras Price
Additional Dinner $350+GST

Dinner is included in Conference Package

Full rate
Corporate/Government/Regulators/NFP $2,995 + GST
Standard (Insurance and Service Providers) $3,995 + GST

Dinner

1 April 2025 | 6pm

Ten Stories
68 Market Street,
Sydney, 2000
https://www.swissotel.com/hotels/sydney/dining/ten-stories-sydney

Insights

How to achieve more with less, when handling workers’ compensation claims
Read more >>

Mentally healthy workplaces – a necessary reform for our mental health
Read more >>

How to create mentally healthy workplaces – an interview with Ian Firth, SafeWork NSW
Read more >>

The impact of megatrends on WHS and workers’ compensation policy
Read more >>

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ConnectMe

ConnectMe • Networking enhanced

All of our events utilise a bespoke dynamic smartphone app, ConnectMe – which guarantees attendees a premium event experience. Logins are sent prior to the conference commencement allowing you to check who’s attending, schedule in meetings and catch ups, participate in live Q+A and interactive polls, and much more. ConnectMe ensures you never miss a beat prior, during and post event.

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Our Commitment to Sustainability

In Australia, we are committed to running our events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Across Informa Connect we are focusing on the short and long-term sustainability impacts we have on customers and colleagues alongside the communities we work in.

We recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognising that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve.

To read more on our latest sustainability reports and Faster Forward initiatives – click here.

when & where

01 - 02 Apr 2025

Swissotel Sydney
68 Market St,
Sydney NSW 2000

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION RATE
Secure your accommodation at the Swissotel Sydney with a special discount* off the best available rate at the time of booking.
To book this rate, please click here and follow the below instructions.

To load/see the rates available please enter the codes as per below

  1. Click on the Book Now link above
  2. Click on the drop down for “Special rates”
  3. Enter your booking dates
  4. Enter the code SCP2108566 in “Business client with contract”
  5. Enter the code IN435AU828 in “Access code”
  6. Click on “See rates”

* Rooms and rates are subject to availability at the time of booking, we suggest booking early to avoid disappointment.

Alternatively, please contact the hotel reservations team directly on 02 9238 8888 between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday or email res.sydney@swissotel.com

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