This is the first newsletter for 2020 and likely to be the last “OMIT” Newsletter in this format due to the formation of the Tasmanian Foundation for Occupational Medicine (TFOM) Inc. ! I expect future newsletters will be on the TFOM website.

Launch – Tasmanian Foundation for Occupational Medicine Inc.

A Foundation to support Occupational Medicine for Tasmania has now been established.

The Foundation is a non-profit association with the following objectives:

• Promote the speciality of Occupational & Environmental Medicine within Tasmania through research, education, awareness and training programmes, including lobbying to achieve the objectives of the Foundation
• Raise and distribute funds to achieve the Foundation’s objectives through industry sponsorships, government grants, provision of training and donations
• Support the training of specialist OEP’s in Tasmania by providing:
  1. scholarships and other types of financial support to trainees;
  2. financial support to practices providing training
  3. mentoring and educational opportunities for trainees
  4. support to newly qualified OEP’s in setting up practice
• Provide funds for research relevant to Occupational & Environmental Medicine in Tasmania

Barry Gilbert is President, Andreas Ernst Treasurer and Peter Sharman Public Officer / Secretary. 

We now have a structure that will allow the specialty in Tasmania to move forward!

More on the new website soon.

Medico-legal Communications Protocol Working Group

The initial meeting rescheduled to February has been postponed again to a date to be advised.

Tribunal – A new Chief Commissioner

I understand a new Chief Commissioner – Alison Clues has been appointed. Alison is due to start in her new role next week. Lucinda Wilkins will continue as the other Commissioner.  The Liberal Party Website includes the following:

The Tasmanian Government is pleased to announce experienced Hobart lawyer, Alison Clues as the new Chief Commissioner of the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Tribunal under a five year appointment.

Ms Clues replaces Robert Webster who was sworn in as a Magistrate in October 2019 having served as Chief Commissioner since November 2016.

Graduating from the University of Tasmania in 1987, Ms Clues has been an Australian legal practitioner since 1990, a longstanding partner in a Hobart law firm, and most recently held the role of Principal Insurance Litigation at Page Seager.

Having worked as a lecturer at UTAS in the areas of workers compensation and professional negligence, and with 24 years of experience in compensation law Ms Clues has an excellent and broad knowledge and understanding of the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.

The role of Chief Commissioner also includes oversight of the Asbestos Compensation Tribunal, the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, the Motor Accidents Compensation Tribunal and the Health Practitioners Tribunal.

What’s On

There will be some interesting sessions and workshops run at the ANZSOM conference in Launceston in March.

The Audiometry Skills and Presentation Skills workshops might be of interest, as well as the main programme.

ANZSOM are also hosting ICOH 2021 in Melbourne.

I am still seeking contributions for future newsletters.

Peter Sharman 13 February 2020