Comcare Australia approved rehabilitation providers are canvassed about their willingness to provide services in conjunction with this model.
Within the State Office, senior Claims Managers should agree on the minimum criteria for selecting a participating provider. This may include possession of relevant qualifications in the field of stress-related injury management, e.g. for psychologists, specialist qualifications in clinical psychology or eligability for membership of the Board of Clinical Psychologists, Australian Psychological Society.
If qualifications will not be required then a list of necessary skills could be substituted, for example:
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high level communication skills;
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familiarity with Commonwealth working conditions;
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skills in workplace interviewing and gathering collateral information;
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knowledge of psychopathology;
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proficiency in psychological testing and assessment skills.
Claims managers should be aware of the risks of using providers who are without formal qualifications in the field. If the opinion is challenged at a later stage it may be difficult to justify preferring the provider's opinion over that of, say, the treating general practitioner.
The provider must be willing to give an undertaking to accomodate referrals and provide reports within the required time limits.