Independent Review Officer

Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time

Salary: Salary not specified

Grade: Grade in advertisement

Occupation: Legal

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/4697

The Workers Compensation Independent Review Service provides a non-statutory review framework for decisions made by claims agents under the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 and Accident Compensation Act 1985 on behalf of WorkSafe.

WCIRS reviews disputed workers' compensation decisions in a manner that ensures fair, reasonable and sustainable outcomes that assist WorkSafe to support workers through their recovery and provide effective occupational rehabilitation and early return to work through suitable employment opportunities.

As an Independent Review Officer you will be expected to undertake a high level of complex investigative and analytical work that has significant implications across WorkSafe Victoria operations while working within clear and established management systems, legislative/regulatory provisions and professional standards.

• $148,113.00 per annum + 12% superannuation
• Full time, fixed term opportunity until 2 October 2026 (parental leave)
• Melbourne CBD based role (hybrid – 3 days a week in office)

About the opportunity

As an Independent Review Officer you will be expected to undertake a high level of complex investigative and analytical work that has significant implications across WorkSafe Victoria operations while working within clear and established management systems, legislative/regulatory provisions and professional standards.

Key accountabilities

• Investigate and determine applications for review of disputed WorkSafe agent decisions and other WorkSafe decisions in a fair, reasonable and timely manner.
• Write clear and logical decisions setting out the basis for decision, relevant findings of fact and the material on which those findings were based.
• Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal stakeholders and provide support and learning opportunities relating to or arising out of a non-statutory review.
• Communicate decision outcomes of reviews and the reasons for those outcomes to workers, agents or other authorised decision-makers and relevant WorkSafe staff in a timely and professional manner.
• Liaise with and provide instruction and guidance to employers, employees and other duty holders in relation to the review process.

About you

You have demonstrated experience as a technical expert or a complex specialist as a legal advocate or policy specialist in the Victorian workers' compensation framework. Your written and verbal communication skills will be highly developed and you will have the ability to work independently with minimal supervision in an environment of internal and stakeholder pressure, and strict statutory deadlines.

More specifically, you will have:

• Demonstrated experience as a technical expert or a complex specialist as a legal advocate or policy specialist in the Victorian workers' compensation framework.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting administrative and merit reviews or formal organisational investigations.
• Highly developed and demonstrated knowledge of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (Vic) 2013 and the Victorian workers' compensation statutory framework.
• Highly developed alternative dispute resolution, conflict resolution and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to assess competing and complex arguments and to reach logical and sustainable conclusions based on relevant material.
• Demonstrated ability to write sound logical and sustainable decisions capable of withstanding internal and external scrutiny, including scrutiny by Courts and Tribunals.
• Capacity to deal effectively and tactfully with a wide range of stakeholders in the review context, including workers, employers, lawyers and other representatives.
• Demonstrated ability to present review outcomes and learnings to internal and external stakeholder groups.

Highly Desirable Skills & Experience

• Sound understanding of the principles of administrative review, and their application to the WorkSafe review context.
• Understanding of the principles of statutory interpretation and legal precedent.
• A tertiary undergraduate degree in law or equivalent legal studies and/or TAFE Certificate IV in Personal Injury Management or equivalent.

Applications close 11:00pm Thursday 18 September 2025.

Applications close Thursday 18 September 2025 at 11.59pm

Posted

4 September 2025