WorkSafe Board Advisory Committees

Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee

The Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee (OHSAC) was established under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act) to advise the WorkSafe Board about promoting healthy and safe working environments and the operation and administration of the OHS Act and regulations.

OHSAC was established to provide a forum of people with expertise and/or who represent stakeholders with an interest in matters involving the promotion of healthy and safe working environments and in the operation and administration of the OHS Act.

Composition of the Committee

The Chair of the WorkSafe Board is the Chair of OHSAC.

Members of the Committee are appointed by the Minister, and consist of:

• 2 persons recommended by WorkSafe's Board of Management who represent the interests of WorkSafe;
• 2 persons who the Minister considers represent the interests of the Crown;
• 6 persons who the Minister considers represent the interests of employers (at least 2 of whom the Minister considers represent the interests of employers engaged in small business);
• 6 persons who the Minister considers represent the interests of employees;
• 2 independent persons who the Minister considers have appropriate expertise and experience in OHS.
• 2 persons who the Minister considers have been affected, directly or indirectly, by a workplace incident that involves death or a serious injury or illness.

Members of OHSAC

• Bob Cameron – Chair of the WorkSafe Board

Representing WorkSafe:

• Cathy Henderson, CEO
• Sam Jenkin - Chief Health and Safety Officer

Representing the Crown:

• Vacant - Commissioner, Victorian Small Business Commission
• Sarah Gruner – Victorian Public Sector Commission

Independent with appropriate expertise and experience:

• Prof Karen Walker-Bone – Director, Monash Centre, Occupational & Environment Health
• Madeleine Harradence – Victorian Branch Secretary, Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (Victoria)

Representing Employees:

• Ronnie Hayden – Victorian Branch Secretary, Australian Workers Union
• Wil Stracke - Assistant Secretary, Victorian Trades Hall Council
• Justin Mullaly – Victorian Branch President, Australian Education Union
• Dr Gerry Ayres - Health & Safety Unit Manager, CFMEU
• Michael Donovan – Victorian Branch Secretary, Shop Distributive & Allied Employed Association

Representing Employers:

• Tim Piper - Director, Australian Industry Group (Victoria)
• Keith Ryan – Executive Director, Housing Industry Association (Victorian Region)
• Stuart McCullough – Chief Executive, Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association
• Charlie Thomas - CEO, Victorian Farmers Federation
• Michaela Lihou – Chief Executive Officer, Master Builders Association Victoria

WorkCover Advisory Committee

The WorkCover Advisory Committee (WAC) was established under the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 (WIRC Act) to advise the WorkSafe Board about workers' entitlement to compensation, return to work, rehabilitation, and the operation and administration of the WIRC Act and relevant regulations.

The purpose of the WAC is to focus on strategic issues, providing an important interface between WorkSafe's operational activity and the Board.

Composition of the Committee

The Chair of the WorkSafe Board is the Chair of WAC.

Members of the Committee are appointed by the Minister, and consist of:

• persons with a sound knowledge of the law relating to accident compensation
• persons with experience in the provision of hospital services or medical services
• persons with experience in accident compensation who are nominated by Victorian employer and employee groups, and
• persons with knowledge and experience in accident rehabilitation
• persons the Minister considers have been affected, directly or indirectly, by a workplace incident that involves death, serious injury or illness.

Members of WAC

• Bob Cameron - Chair

Knowledge and experience in the provision of hospital or medical services:

• Dr Anita Munoz – Chair, Victorian Faculty, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
• Phillipa Thomas – CEO, Mental Health Victoria

Knowledge and experience in occupational rehabilitation:

• Dr Mary Wyatt – Occupational Physician, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
• Frank Imbesi – President, Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association

Appropriate expertise and knowledge of applicable law:

• Nadia Grech – Chair, Law Institute of Victoria
• Ben Gilley - Practice Group Leader, Slater & Gordon Lawyers
• Emma Hines - Managing Counsel, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
• Susan Accary – Victorian President, Australian Lawyers Alliance

Representing Employees:

• Ronnie Hayden – Victorian Branch Secretary, Australian Workers Union
• Wil Stracke - Assistant Secretary, Victorian Trades Hall Council
• Madeleine Harradence - Victorian Branch Secretary, Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (Victoria)
• Seir Holley – Deputy Secretary, Australian Education Union

Representing Employers:

• Tim Piper - Director, Australian Industry Group (Victoria)
• Stefan Delaney - Chair, Self Insurers Association of Victoria
• Sally Curtain - Chief Executive, Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• Lionel Charmetant – Chief Operations Officer, Gallagher Bassett

Return to Work Advisory Subcommittee

The Return to Work Advisory Subcommittee (RTWAC) was established by the WorkCover Advisory Committee, as a requirement of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (WorkCover Scheme Modernisation) Act 2024 (Scheme Modernisation Act).

The Committee is established to provide a forum of people with expertise and/or who represent stakeholders with an interest in matters involving return to work; which can provide advice to the Board and receive information from WorkSafe regarding key strategies and projects.

Composition of the Committee

The Chair of the WorkSafe Board is the Chair of RTWAC.

In addition to the Chair, the Committee membership is drawn from the existing membership of the WorkCover Advisory Committee, and are appointed by the Minister.

Members of RTWAC

• Bob Cameron – Chair

Knowledge and experience in occupation rehabilitation:

• Dr Mary Wyatt - Occupational Physician, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
• Frank Imbesi – President, Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association

Appropriate expertise and knowledge of applicable law:

• Susan Accary - Victorian President, Australian Lawyers Alliance

Representing Employees:

• Wil Strake - Assistant Secretary, Victorian Trades Hall Council

Representing Employers:

• Tim Piper - Director, Australian Industry Group (Victoria)