Implementing a Single Videoconference Platform for the Personal Injury Commission

07/06/2021

The President of the NSW Personal Injury Commission has advised that the Commission will progressively be moving all videoconferencing to a single platform over the coming months.

This is part of the Commission's initiative to harmonise the Commission's processes and platforms wherever possible and will position it to continue offering virtual proceedings as part of its ongoing access options post-pandemic.

Microsoft Teams has been selected as the Commission's single platform for videoconferencing. Teams is the platform currently used for motor accidents assessments and hearings within the Commission and has worked successfully for that purpose to date. It will remain in place for motor accidents proceedings on an ongoing basis.

From Monday 7 June, the Commission will commence a process of transitioning workers compensation hearings and mediations to Teams, which will progress in a phased approach through to September 2021.

The implementation is commencing with a small group of members moving to Teams­ based hearings in June and July. Hearings for the rest of the Commission's workers compensation members will transition to Teams in phases, with all expected to be conducted in Teams by September. Mediations will transition to Teams during September.

Thorough training will be provided for Commission support staff and members to ensure the transition runs smoothly.

The Commission will support legal practitioners involved with the initial hearings by contacting them directly in advance to provide assistance if required and resource materials will be available. As the remainder of hearings move to Teams, the Commission will offer open information sessions for the legal community to provide an overview of the Teams functionality they need to understand to join and interact effectively on the platform. Reference materials will be available on the Commission's website.

Further information will be provided regarding the transition to Teams to the legal community via the Commission's established communication channels as it progresses.

---