Independent medical examiners (IME) recruitment

Background

The role of an IME is to review an injured worker and provide an evidenced based report on their injury and treatment. The IME opinion informs claims decisions to enable the workers recovery and return to work.

To become a WorkSafe approved IME you must meet discipline specific selection criteria and sign a WorkSafe IME declaration confirming you will abide by the IME Service standards. This includes complying with availability and timeliness requirements, fee schedules and quality assurance activities.

Engagement period

As a member of the WorkSafe IME panel, you will be approved until 30 June 2027, unless your approval is reviewed or ceases in accordance with the IME Agreement.

Speciality areas required

WorkSafe will be reviewing applications from specific specialties based on demand.

Selection Criteria

The following selection criteria applies for all medical specialties:

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 their relevant college (Australasian) and has held Fellowship for a minimum of 5 years; (Psychiatry and Occupational Medicine is 3 years);
3. the practitioner has a minimum of 5 years of direct clinical care experience as a practitioner in their chosen discipline; and
4. the practitioner 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
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.

Any specialty specific selection criteria can be obtained by emailing [email protected]

Apply

To ensure your application is complete, please refer to the below checklist for supporting documentation required.
Once complete, please email through to [email protected].

Application Checklist

• Completed Application Form
• Resume
• AHPRA Registration Certificate
• Certificate of Fellowship
• Public Liability Insurance Certificate
• Professional Indemnity Insurance Certificate
• Two de-identified medico-legal reports
• Please note – you do not need to sign and submit Part C – IME Agreement – this is for review only

Email your application

Application review and on-boarding Process

• Application reviewed to ensure it meets the outlined selection criteria
• If application progresses:
  • You will need to complete 7 online learning modules relevant to Independent Medical Examinations
  • Completion of Registration Paperwork
  • Review and sign an IME Agreement – this will be sent to you during the on-boarding process
  • Once the above is completed, WorkSafe will then advise when you have been approved as an IME and are able to conduct Independent Medical Examinations on behalf of WorkSafe.
• If application does not progress:
  • You will be notified via email and will be provided with an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made on your application.

Queries

Contact the IME team at [email protected]