Research to action
Photo courtesy of the Transport Accident Commission
Leading international and national experts, practitioners and researchers in injury compensation and rehabilitation will discuss key industry issues at the inaugural Australasian Compensation Health Research Forum this week.
The Forum has been jointly organised by the Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR) - a joint initiative of WorkSafe Victoria, TAC and Monash University - along with the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) based in New Zealand.
Professor Niki Ellis, CEO of ISCRR said the forum would feature presentations and debates on a range of issues impacting the Australian compensation system and the development of a National Disability Insurance Scheme.
“The Australian compensation system is highly fragmented, with 19 different state and commonwealth organisations responsible for providing workplace and motor accident compensation. As a result scheme policies can vary enormously from one state to another,” Professor Ellis said.
For example, in Victoria and Tasmania the motor accident compensation system is primarily a ‘no fault’ system, however in other states, access to compensation is restricted to those who are not ‘at fault’.”
Professor Ellis said the impact of compensation on health and the importance of translating research evidence into policy and practice would be central to the discussion.
“Current research shows that people who receive compensation following injury recover more slowly than people with the same injuries who don’t receive compensation,” Professor Ellis said.
“People who receive compensation are slower to return to work and report worse physical and mental health and this can have long-term impacts on individuals and their families.
“Obviously this has huge implications for compensation regulators who are required to maximise the financial viability of insurance schemes.
“Compensation health issues will be examined and discussed with a focus on the use of research evidence in developing policy and practice as well as factors affecting the use of research evidence and opportunities to increase its use,” Professor Ellis said.
The Australasian Compensation Health Research Forum will be held in Melbourne this week.
Follow the conference on Twitter here or visit www.iscrr.com.au