MAA News

Enquiry into Motorcycle and Bicycle safety

The NSW Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety (Staysafe) has recently commenced an enquiry into vulnerable road users, with a particular focus on motorcyclists and cyclists. Anyone can make a submission to the enquiry - submissions are due by Friday 6 August. See the attached terms of reference and information about how to prepare a submission.

Green Slip Scheme Expanded

From April 2010, the NSW Compulsory Third Party, or Green Slip, insurance scheme has been expanded so that anyone injured in a motor vehicle accident in NSW, regardless of who was at fault, may be able to access benefits.

It is estimated that an additional 4,000 NSW road users will have access to benefits that were previously unavailable to them.

The change relates specifically to the Accident Notification Form (ANF) which provides for the early payment of reasonable and necessary medical expenses and/or lost earnings up to a maximum of $5,000.

To be eligible to access the benefits available, the injured person needs to submit their ANF within 28 days of the accident.

Further information on the expanded ANF can be accessed on the Claims > Accident Notification Form page.

New child restraint laws have commenced

On 4 November 2009, former NSW Premier Nathan Rees and Minister for Transport David Campbell announced the introduction of new child restraint laws for children up to seven years of age.

Summary of changes:

From 1 March 2010:

•Children younger than six months must be secured in a rearward facing restraint.
•Children aged six months to under four years must be secured in either a rear or forward facing restraint.
•Children aged four years to under seven years must be secured in forward facing child restraint or booster seat.
•Children younger than four years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows.
•Children aged four years to under seven years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in a child restraint or booster seat.
 

Visit the RTA's website for more information.
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/children/childrestraints/index.html?hhid=restraints

Treatment Principles for Psychologists and Counsellors

The MAA is pleased to make available Treatment principles for the provision of psychological and counselling services.

This document, for use by practising psychologists, counsellors and CTP insurers, is the result of a successful collaboration with WorkCover NSW and provides a framework for the provision of psychological and counselling services under the WorkCover and Motor Accidents Compensation schemes. Relevant industry stakeholders were involved in its development and during the consultation phase of the project.

The principles will form the basis of a communication guide for psychologists and counsellors working in the CTP scheme, which is currently being developed.

The communication guide will be available to service providers and insurers by June 2010.

Click here to read the Treatment Principles (840kb)

Claim forms made simpler...

The MAA has updated its claim forms to make them easier to complete. All of our claim forms are now 'editable'. This means that you can download your form and fill it in online. You can also save a copy on your computer for your records.

You will still need to print the form off, sign it and get your doctor to complete the medical certificate before you send it to the CTP insurer.

Click here to access MAA claim forms.

Whiplash Recovery DVD

New educational DVD for patients with whiplash

The MAA has produced a DVD for people to watch at home that clearly and simply talks about whiplash and demonstrates the exercises they need to do to assist in their recovery. 

The DVD reflects the key messages contained in the booklet “Your Guide to Whiplash Recovery in the first 12 weeks after the accident”.  The DVD is a new initiative in response to research published by the January 2008 Bone and Joint Task Force on Neck Pain, supporting the use of educational DVDs focusing on self efficacy and exercises as a more effective strategy for managing whiplash associated disorders.

The DVD has an interactive menu containing a series of sections that the viewer can return to at any time through simple navigation.  Included is a demonstration of the exercises with voice over instructions, and additional material not currently contained in the Whiplash booklet about how to lodge an Accident Notification Form or Personal Injury Claim Form for CTP claimants in NSW.

General practitioners and treating health professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths are encouraged to obtain copies of the DVD to give to their patients to keep and watch at home to support their whiplash treatment program. 

The DVD is free of charge and copies can be ordered by contacting the Claims Advisory Service on 1300 137 131 or by email to cas@maa.nsw.gov.au.

The footage can also be viewed on this website, under the Injury Management tab, Guides for Injured People section.

Law and Justice Committee Review Released

The final report of the Law and Justice Committee's ninth review of the exercise of the functions of the Motor Accidents Authority and the Motor Accidents Council has been released.

•http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/BDFBBE30B3B28139CA2574B7000E3CB0