Workers Compensation Program Lead

Australian Unity Limited; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary + bonus

Yearly Well-Being & Community leave

14-week parental leave

Employee Referral Program

Employee Assistance Program

Discounts across Australian Unity

LinkedIn Learning access

Job summary

Australian Unity is seeking a Workers Compensation Program Lead to provide expert technical leadership across NSW workers compensation claims and ensure compliance with NSW legislation and SIRA guidelines. You will drive decision quality, support complex claims, and build capability within the claims team.

The role focuses on governance, strategic claim support, and stakeholder engagement to improve recovery and return-to-work outcomes.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years' experience in workers compensation claims management, including complex and litigated claims.
• Strong knowledge of NSW Workers Compensation Act 1987 and 1998, and SIRA guidelines.
• Proven ability to interpret legislation, medical reports and legal documentation.
• Leadership experience in coaching and building technical capability.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across the full claim lifecycle, including notification, liability, entitlement management and dispute resolution.
• Develop and deliver training programs, case conferencing and mentoring to build capability.
• Develop QA frameworks for claims management and drive continuous improvement to uplift decision quality and regulatory compliance.
• Engage with stakeholders including SIRA, external legal providers, medical and rehabilitation partners.
• Collaborate with Injury Management, Legal, Risk & Compliance to ensure integrated claim strategies and risk oversight.

Skills

Technical Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Regulatory knowledge

Change management

Education

Tertiary qualification in insurance, law, health science, or related field

Certificate IV in Personal Injury Management or equivalent

Job description

Workers Compensation Program Lead

Australian Unity

About us

Established in 1840, we are Australia's first wellbeing company, delivering health, wealth and care services for our members and the community.

As a social enterprise, we're motivated by our purpose to positively impact the wellbeing of millions. We reinvest profits to deliver products and services sustainably that matter most to our members, customers and the Australian community.

For us, Real Wellbeing encompasses the whole experience of life. It's about feeling supported in your health, connected with your community and empowered to live life on your terms.

The Opportunity

The Workers Compensation Program Lead operations as the Technical Manager and will provide expert technical leadership and guidance across workers compensation claims management in NSW. This role ensures compliance with legislation, drives best practice, supports complex decision-making, and builds technical capability within the claims team to improve recovery and return-to-work outcomes.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Technical Leadership
  • comply with Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) and Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW)
  • align with SIRA Standards of Practice
  • deliver fair, evidence based, and timely outcomes for injured workers
  • Act as the primary escalation point for complex, high risk, and litigated claims
  • Provide authoritative advice on liability determination; statutory entitlements; impairment and damages exposure; common law and dispute strategy
  • Review and sign off key decisions to ensure they are legally defensible, procedurally fair and evidence based.
  • Provide direction on claim strategy across long tail and high value exposures
  • Lead technical reviews and audits to ensure compliance and quality outcomes
• Capability Development
  • Build technical capability across claims and injury management teams through structured training programs, case conferencing, coaching and mentoring
  • Deliver training on legislative updates, SIRA guidelines, liability and entitlement frameworks
  • Embed consistent technical standards aligned to NSW scheme expectations
  • Support the development of high performing, technically competent claims teams
• Governance & Compliance
  • Develop and implement QA frameworks for claims management
  • Analyse audit findings and identify systemic issues
  • Lead remediation programs and continuous improvement initiatives including driving an uplift in decision quality, consistency and regulatory compliance.
  • Ensure learnings from audits, complaints and regulator feedback are embedded into practice
• Strategic Claims support
  • Provide technical oversight across the full claim's lifecycle across injury notification, liability determination, entitlement management and dispute resolution
  • Partner with Injury Management, Legal, Risk & Compliance to ensure integrated claim strategies
  • Guide complex matters including psychological injury claims, common law exposure, work capacity disputes
• Stakeholder Engagement.
  • Act as the key technical interface with the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), external legal providers and medical and rehabilitation stakeholders
  • Support regulatory reporting, audits, and reviews
  • Provide technical input into business plans, audit responses, licence compliance submissions
• Financial & Risk Oversight of claim estimates and reserving accuracy and cost drivers across the portfolio and support the reduction of long-tail liabilities, unnecessary treatment expenditure identify emerging risks and implement mitigation measures.

Applications close: October 14th, 2026

You will bring

• Minimum 10 years' experience in workers compensation claims management, with exposure to complex and litigated claims.
• Strong knowledge of NSW Workers Compensation Act 1987, 1998, and SIRA guidelines.
• Proven ability to interpret legislation, medical reports, and legal documentation.
• Leadership experience in coaching and technical capability building.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to develop and implement change are crucial.
• Desirable Qualifications:
  • Tertiary qualification in insurance, law, health science, or related field.
  • Certificate IV in Personal Injury Management or equivalent.
• Core Competencies:
  • Technical expertise and attention to detail.
  • Strategic thinking and influencing skills.
  • Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure.

Why Join Us?

You will enjoy a range of great employee benefits and rewards including:

• Competitive salary + bonus program
• Enjoy additional yearly Well-Being and Community leave days.
• 14-week paid parental leave, with equal benefit for both parents
• Employee Referral Program
• Employee Assistance Program - support and assistance for you and your partner at those times in life when you need it most.
• Flare/Maxxia Rewards - a great range of discounts and benefits at selected retail outlets, department stores, attractions, travel, cinemas, restaurants.
• Discounts across the Australian Unity business including Private Health Insurance, General Insurance + more!
• Available access to LinkedIn Learning courses through our great Learning platform

For further benefits visit: https://www.australianunity.com.au/careers/culture

Australian Unity is an Equal Opportunity employer and we encourage applications from all members of the community, including people of Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander descent, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and, mature, aged people.