Arbitration Program:

The Victorian State Government has introduced reforms through the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Arbitration) Bill 2020 to establish an arbitration function in the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 (WIRC Act), to be administered by the ACCS allowing for binding determinations of disputed workers compensation claims. This significant Government reform will expand the services of the ACCS. As a result, Arbitration will be introduced as a dispute resolution pathway through ACCS. Achieving fair outcomes for workers’ compensation disputes in a respectful and inclusive manner to enhance the social and economic welfare of people impacted by workplace injuries. It is intended that the new arbitration process will follow on from the existing conciliation process, already administered by ACCS. The new arbitration model is due to commence on 1 July 2022.

Amenity Project:

The Amenity project will deliver an accommodation outcome for ACCS staff as well as a refurbished public contact environment, offering a mix of conciliation rooms and arbitration hearing rooms. This project will substantially increases the ACCS floorplate and supports an extended workforce. This involves building 6 new Arbitration hearing rooms and an additional 1,734 square metres of office space, to be fitted out (to accommodate existing staff that are currently located at level 1, as well as additional staff to be on-boarded for the new arbitration function).

The ACCS is intending to release a Selective Tender in July 2021 for the Principal Design Consultant services to the ACCS for the fit out of office space.