Independent Medical Examiners recruitment

Selection Criteria for Independent Medical Examiners – Psychiatrist

All applications for approval as an independent medical examiner for WorkSafe Victoria (WorkSafe) will be assessed against the selection criteria.

1. Mandatory Criteria
   1. the practitioner has current registration as required by the Health Practitioner National Registration Law (Victoria) 2009 with no conditions, limitations or restrictions on registration and abides by all relevant AHPRA standards; and
   2. the practitioner is a current Fellow of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry and has held Fellowship for a minimum of 3 years; and
   3. the practitioner has a minimum of 3 years full time equivalent work experience as a practitioner in psychiatry; and
   4. the practitioner currently undertakes a minimum of 8 hours practice1 each week in the area of practice in which the IME provides specialist opinion; and
   5. the practitioner is a member of an association which provides professional indemnity cover or holds current and enforceable professional indemnity insurance with cover as required by applicable state and/or Commonwealth laws, or in the absence of such applicable laws, in terms acceptable to the TAC and WorkSafe and of at least $10 million with respect to any single event; and
   6. the practitioner holds or is insured under a current public liability insurance policy with cover of at least $20 million with respect to any single event; and
   7. the practitioner is able to demonstrate that he or she has strong verbal and written skills, the ability to communicate appropriately with a wide range of professionals, patients and injured workers
2. Highly Desirable Criteria
   1. the practitioner has experience in treating people in a compensation scheme context (including work-related injuries and illnesses) or current ongoing direct clinical practice experience
   2. the practitioner has relevant post graduate qualifications.
   3. the practitioner has a commitment to advanced clinical practice demonstrated by the devotion of professional time to:
      1. the instruction of students; or
      2. active participation in formal special interest groups or networks; or
      3. clinical research.

Selection Criteria for Independent Medical Examiners – Psychologists

All applications for approval as an independent medical examiner for WorkSafe Victoria (WorkSafe) will be assessed against the selection criteria.

1. Mandatory Criteria
   1. the practitioner has current registration as required by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Victoria) Act 2009 with no conditions, limitations or restrictions on registration and abides by all relevant AHPRA standards;
   2. the practitioner has one of the following areas of practice endorsement as recognised by AHPRA
      • clinical neuropsychology
      • clinical psychology
      • forensic psychology
      • health psychology
   3. the practitioner has a minimum of 5 years full time (or equivalent) work experience as a practitioner in his or her chosen discipline; and
   4. the practitioner currently undertakes a minimum of 8 hours of direct clinical practice each week in the area of practice in which the IME provides specialist opinion; and
   5. the practitioner is a member of an association which provides professional indemnity cover or holds current and enforceable professional indemnity insurance with cover as required by applicable state and/or Commonwealth laws, or in the absence of such applicable laws, in terms acceptable to WorkSafe and of at least $10 million with respect to any single event; and
   6. the practitioner holds or is insured under a current public liability insurance policy with cover of at least $20 million with respect to any single event; and
   7. the practitioner is able to demonstrate that he or she has strong verbal and written skills, the ability to communicate appropriately with a wide range of professionals, patients and injured workers
   8. the practitioner applies the guiding principles of the ‘Clinical Framework for the Delivery of Health Services' in their practice
2. Highly Desirable Criteria
   1. the practitioner is a current member of a the professional association/ college for the area of practice in which the IME provides specialist opinion.
   2. the practitioner has experience treating people in a compensation scheme context (including work-related injuries and illnesses) or extensive experience conducting mental health/pain assessments.
   3. the practitioner has relevant post graduate qualifications.
   4. the practitioner has a commitment to advanced clinical practice demonstrated by the devotion of professional time to:
      1. the instruction of students; or
      2. active participation in formal special interest groups or networks; or
      3. clinical research

Selection Criteria for Independent Medical Examiners – Occupational and Environmental Medicine Physician

All applications for approval as an independent medical examiner for WorkSafe Victoria (WorkSafe) will be assessed against the selection criteria.

1. Mandatory Criteria
   1. the practitioner has registration as required by the Health Practitioner National Registration Law (Victoria) 2009 with no conditions, undertakings, reprimands, limitations or restrictions on registration and abides by all relevant AHPRA standards; and
   2. the practitioner is a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (AFOEM) and has held Fellowship for a minimum of 5 years;
   3. the practitioner has a minimum of 5 years of experience as a practitioner in their chosen discipline; and
   4. the practitioner currently undertakes a minimum of 8 hours practice1 each week, which is aligned to their chosen discipline for providing a specialist opinion as an IME; and
   5. the practitioner is a member of an association which provides professional indemnity cover or holds current and enforceable professional indemnity insurance with cover as required by applicable state and/or Commonwealth laws, or in the absence of such applicable laws, on terms acceptable to WorkSafe and of at least $10 million with respect to any single event; and
   6. the practitioner holds or is insured under a current public liability insurance policy with cover of at least $20 million with respect to any single event; and
   7. the practitioner is able to demonstrate that he or she has strong verbal and written skills, the ability to communicate appropriately with a wide range of professionals, patients and injured workers
2. Highly Desirable Criteria
   1. the practitioner has experience in treating people in a compensation scheme context (including work-related injuries and illnesses) or current ongoing direct clinical practice experience
   2. the practitioner has a commitment to advanced clinical practice demonstrated by the devotion of professional time to:
      1. the instruction of students; or
      2. active participation in formal special interest groups or networks; or
      3. clinical research

*'Practice means any role, whether remunerated or not, in which the individual uses their skills and knowledge as a health practitioner in their profession. It is not restricted to the provision of direct clinical care. It also includes using professional knowledge in a direct nonclinical relationship with clients, working in management, administration, education, research, advisory, regulatory or policy development roles, and any other roles that impact on safe, effective delivery of services in the profession.’ As defined by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

Selection Criteria for Independent Medical Examiners – Obstetrics and Gynaecology

All applications for approval as an independent medical examiner for WorkSafe Victoria (WorkSafe) will be assessed against the selection criteria.

1. Mandatory Criteria
   1. the practitioner has registration as required by the Health Practitioner National Registration Law (Victoria) 2009 with no conditions, undertakings, reprimands, limitations or restrictions on registration and abides by all relevant AHPRA standards; and
   2. the practitioner is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and has held Fellowship for a minimum of 5 years;
   3. the practitioner
      1. currently undertakes a minimum of 8 hours direct clinical care each week, which is aligned to their chosen discipline for providing a specialist opinion as an IME; and
      2. was engaged in active surgical practice within the last 10 years
   4. the practitioner is a member of an association which provides professional indemnity cover or holds current and enforceable professional indemnity insurance with cover as required by applicable state and/or Commonwealth laws, or in the absence of such applicable laws, on terms acceptable to WorkSafe and of at least $10 million with respect to any single event; and
   5. the practitioner holds or is insured under a current public liability insurance policy with cover of at least $20 million with respect to any single event; and
   6. the practitioner is able to demonstrate that he or she has strong verbal and written skills, the ability to communicate appropriately with a wide range of professionals, patients and injured workers
2. Highly Desirable Criteria
   1. the practitioner has experience in treating people in a compensation scheme context (including work-related injuries and illnesses) or current ongoing direct clinical practice experience
   2. the practitioner has a commitment to advanced clinical practice demonstrated by the devotion of professional time to:
      1. the instruction of students; or
      2. active participation in formal special interest groups or networks; or
      3. clinical research

Selection Criteria for Independent Medical Examiners – Multi-Disciplinary (Pain Specialist and Spinal Surgeon (Neuro/ Orthopaedic))

The Multi-Disciplinary model provides a joint medical opinion from both a pain specialist and a spinal surgeon. The joint examination is completed in Melbourne CBD at a location directed by Worksafe.

All applications for approval as an independent medical examiner for WorkSafe Victoria (WorkSafe) will be assessed against the selection criteria.

1. Mandatory Criteria
   1. the practitioner has registration as required by the Health Practitioner National Registration Law (Victoria) 2009 with no conditions, undertakings, reprimands, limitations or restrictions on registration and abides by all relevant AHPRA standards; and
   2. the practitioner is a Fellow of the Pain Medicine faculty of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FPM) and has held Fellowship for a minimum of 5 years; or
   3. the practitioner is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons and has held Fellowship for a minimum of 10 years;
   4. the practitioner currently undertakes a minimum of 8 hours practice1 each week in the area of practice in which the IME provides specialist opinion as a Pain Specialist or Surgeon; and
   5. was engaged in active surgical practice within the last 10 years (surgeon only)
   6. the practitioner is a member of an association which provides professional indemnity cover or holds current and enforceable professional indemnity insurance with cover as required by applicable state and/or Commonwealth laws, or in the absence of such applicable laws, on terms acceptable to WorkSafe and of at least $10 million with respect to any single event; and
   7. the practitioner holds or is insured under a current public liability insurance policy with cover of at least $20 million with respect to any single event; and
   8. the practitioner is able to demonstrate that he or she has strong verbal and written skills, the ability to communicate appropriately with a wide range of professionals, patients and injured workers.
   9. the practitioner is able to demonstrate a willingness and ability to work cooperatively with clinicians from another medical specialty. This will include collaboration within examinations and in the construction of quality reports that draw upon the expertise of both specialties' and are supported by high quality evidence
2. Highly Desirable Criteria
   1. the practitioner has experience in treating people in a compensation scheme context (including work-related injuries and illnesses) or current ongoing direct clinical practice experience
   2. the practitioner has a commitment to advanced clinical practice demonstrated by the devotion of professional time to:
      1. the instruction of students; or
      2. active participation in formal special interest groups or networks; or
      3. clinical research

*'Practice means any role, whether remunerated or not, in which the individual uses their skills and knowledge as a health practitioner in their profession. It is not restricted to the provision of direct clinical care. It also includes using professional knowledge in a direct nonclinical relationship with clients, working in management, administration, education, research, advisory, regulatory or policy development roles, and any other roles that impact on safe, effective delivery of services in the profession.' As defined by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.