Dispute resolution services

Medical Assessment Tribunals

In 2024-25, tribunal referrals increased by 13.2% from 2023-24 to a total of 4,271 referrals received. Psychiatric Assessment referrals represent 87.1% of these referrals (85.4% in 2023-24).

There was a 5% increase in the monthly average of referrals finalised (including cancelled referrals). 743 tribunal referrals (17.4%) were cancelled and returned for insurer action for not meeting mandatory referral requirements as set out in the Medical Assessment Tribunal - Referral Guidelines (PDF, 0.27 MB). These referrals are often resubmitted which contributes to the rise in referral numbers.

The average duration from date of registration until a tribunal hearing increased from 42.1 business days in 2023-24 to 58.5 business days.

Strategies continue to be implemented to manage increased referrals and reduce timeframes and impacts for workers, insurers and the scheme. These include resourcing, improving quality of referrals, intensive hearings, exploring and prioritising technical and system enhancements to drive efficiencies and progressing business improvements including upgrades to the online MAT referral portal.

To minimise harm for workers, insurers and the scheme, priority referrals continue to be expedited.

An insurer or worker can request consideration to prioritise a referral due to a risk of potential psychological harm or financial welfare concerns by emailing their request to mat@oir.qld.gov.au or phoning 1300 738 197.

Specialty and General Medical Assessment Tribunals

The Medical Assessment Tribunals make independent, expert medical decisions about work-related injury or impairment.

Due to appointments concluding on 30 June 2025, a recruitment process was completed to fill the upcoming vacancies within the Specialty Medical Assessment Tribunals (excluding the Psychiatric Assessment Tribunal), and to fill vacancies within the General Medical Assessment Tribunal due to the retirement of some specialists.

Appointments to the Specialty Medical Assessment Tribunals and the General Medical Assessment Tribunal were approved by the Governor in Council with effect from 1 July 2025. Specialty Medical Assessment Tribunal appointments were for a three-year term until 30 June 2028 and General Medical Assessment Tribunal appointments were for a two-year term until 30 June 2027 to align with existing appointments to this tribunal. View the full list of appointments.

Workers' Compensation and Regulatory Services (WCRS) would like to thank retired and non-returning doctors for their valuable expertise and contribution to the Queensland workers’ compensation scheme.

Review and appeals

The Review Unit have seen further improvements in productivity, with a 9.6% increase in reviews finalised for 2024-25. Since business improvement initiatives commenced in 2023, this has resulted in a total increase of 38.9% in reviews finalised despite the ongoing increases in referrals each year.

Reviews continue to be managed efficiently with the average duration to decide reviews once allocated to a review officer stable at around 17.1 days.

Strategies implemented to maximise Review Unit productivity include:

• 25 new permanent additional resources (since 2023-24) and maximising outsourced legal services
• an extended program of work for 2025-26 including process improvements, technology enhancements and capability-building initiatives and, regular engagement with insurers to support improved quality in decision-making and to understand disputation rate trends.

The Review Unit continues to respond to increasing service delivery demands, with a 6.3% per cent increase in review applications (3,593) in 2024-25. This continues to contribute to delays in finalising reviews within the 25-business-day timeframe.

While the rate of reviews going on appeal is stable, the higher output of reviews is contributing to appeals continuing an upward trend, with a 13 per cent increase in 2024-25 (on top of a 22.9 per cent increase in 2023-24).

The Appeals Unit is implementing resource and administrative strategies to manage increasing caseloads resulting from the increase in appeals lodged, with a 16.8% increase in workers’ compensation appeals finalised in 2024-25.