Statement of Intent

About the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission

The SRCC is a statutory body that administers the regulatory functions of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act) not attributed to Comcare and has a range of functions under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. The SRCC plays an important role in the continued improvement of injury prevention, rehabilitation and workers' compensation performance outcomes in the Commonwealth jurisdiction.

The SRC Act allows certain Commonwealth authorities and eligible corporations to apply to the SRCC for a licence to self-insure their workers' compensation liabilities. As the regulator of self-insurance licences, the SRCC monitors compliance and sets performance standards and measures for the injury prevention, claims management and rehabilitation functions of licensees.

The SRCC does not have any staff of its own. Comcare provides the secretariat and administrative support and resources required for the SRCC to undertake its functions.

The SRCC will exercise its functions and powers in good faith and to the best of its ability in ways that are consistent with the government’s policy priorities.

The government's policy priorities

The SRCC commits to acting in accordance with, and striving for continuous improvement against, the government's principles of regulator best practice, as set out in the Department of Finance’s Regulator Performance (RMG 128).

The SRCC commits to identifying and pursuing opportunities that contribute to the government’s objectives to achieving safe workplaces, providing workers with the highest level of protections so they return home safely and supporting recovery and return to health and work after injury or illness by:

• engaging with the findings from the independent review of the SRC Act and providing information and advice on opportunities to improve outcomes for employees covered by the SRC Act and the operation of the SRC Act
• working collaboratively within the tripartite framework of the SRCC
• complying with any Ministerial Directions
• taking proactive steps to ensure self-insured licensees are compliant with the SRC Act in granting and regulating self-insured licenses, including having capacity to meet financial liabilities and obligations in relation to work health and safety, rehabilitation, claims management and consultation with employees
• drawing on evidence and stakeholder experience to identify and address systemic non-compliance
• using intelligence and data to inform a risk-based and proportionate approach to regulatory engagement, including proportional targeting of industries or activities of concern
• monitoring the operating environment to ensure that regulatory approaches keep pace with changes in technology, industry practices and community expectations, and
• being transparent in our operations, policies and decision-making processes including by publishing formal regulatory decisions, performance results and updates on emerging issues, including on upcoming reforms.

Relationships with stakeholders

Regarding relationships with stakeholders, the SRCC commits to:

• publishing up to date, clear and accessible guidance so that stakeholders have clarity about the application process for becoming a self-insured licensee, ongoing licensee obligations and how the SRCC will exercise its powers
• engaging and genuinely consulting with stakeholders including Comcare, government, self-insured licensees and their representatives, and employees and their representatives sharing critical information promptly and being receptive to feedback and diverse stakeholder views
• working collaboratively with self-insured licensees to encourage voluntary compliance with the SRC Act, and
• working collaboratively within the tripartite structure of the Commission to monitor compliance and set performance standards and measures for the prevention of injuries, claims management and rehabilitation functions of licensees, and working collaboratively with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (the department) on significant issues, including in relation to strengthening compliance with the SRC Act and the WHS Act.

Organisational matters

Regarding organisational matters, the SRCC will continue to:

• assess risks that may compromise its ability to administer its functions under the SRC Act and the WHS Act and respond in a proportionate way
• implement appropriate controls to manage the risk of unauthorised disclosure of protected or sensitive information
• uphold and promote the Australian Public Service Values and Code of Conduct, and
• hold itself to account through internal accountability processes that foster a culture of continuous improvement and reflection.

Communicating plans and performance outcomes

The SRCC’s Operational Plan provides further information about its strategic direction and the activities it undertakes to progress this, as well as its strategic risks.

The SRCC’s Annual Report will be used to communicate and promote its performance for the year, including the delivery against performance measures to demonstrate our progress towards the continued improvement of prevention, rehabilitation and workers’ compensation performance outcomes in the Commonwealth jurisdiction.

The SRCC will promote its Operational Plan, Annual Report and other important information and guidance to our stakeholders through our website and targeted engagement activities.

Relationship with Minister and portfolio

I acknowledge the role the SRCC has in assisting you, as the responsible Minister, and the government to respond promptly to issues that may arise in relation to work health and safety workers’ compensation matters and will take proactive steps to ensure that regulated entities are compliant with relevant regulations and operate within the law.

I acknowledge the role of the department as having responsibility for administering and providing advice on the SRC Act and WHS Act and advising on the performance of the portfolio’s regulatory systems. The SRCC will continue to share its expertise and work collaboratively with the department on policy and legislative changes that could affect, or strengthen, health and safety and workers’ compensation arrangements in the Commonwealth jurisdiction. The SRCC appreciates the enabling environment provided by the Minister to consistently implement best practice and keep informed of the government's policy direction, initiatives and strategies being considered.