Insurance and care provider icare has partnered with the Personal Injury Education Foundation (PIEF) to launch Australia’s first Professional Standards Framework for workers’ compensation claims professionals.
The new Professional Standards Framework was developed through consultation with claims service providers (CSPs), regulatory groups, and relevant government agencies, as well as significant injured worker and employer research.
In 2023, icare and PIEF will deliver an improved accreditation pathway for claims management professionals that recognises experience and streamlines access to certificate-level training. The partnership will also focus on high-quality vocational qualifications to reinforce the practices, skills, and knowledge embedded in the Professional Standards Framework.
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Richard Harding, CEO and managing director at icare, said he expects the education partnership to forge new career paths across the insurance sector and improve outcomes for workers and employers.
“Case officers are the foundation of our support system for injured workers, and they play a crucial role for individuals in the delivery of treatment and return to work,” he said. “The enhanced learning suite being guided by PIEF will help our sector retain experienced case officers and attract talented newcomers into rewarding careers. And the uplift in workforce capabilities that are aligned to the framework will enable injured workers to recover and return to work faster. This is a significant step forward in improving performance across the industry.”
PIEF CEO Noel Lyons said the PIEF team is proud to partner with icare and key industry stakeholders to deliver education that promotes consistency in claims management and improves the industry’s professionalism and capability.
“There are strong synergies between PIEF and icare as we both share a commitment to uplift the capabilities of workers compensation claims management professionals and provide the highest levels of service to injured workers and their employers,” Lyons continued. “Our mission is to empower our industry to provide knowledgeable and compassionate care, and this important program of work will support claims management professionals to do this with industry-leading education and career guidance.”
icare and PIEF will focus on launching the new training programs and learning resources to widely implement the framework and enhance claims management professionals’ capabilities.
