Independent Review Officer

Independent Review Officer

• $152,556.00 per annum + 12% superannuation
• Full time, fixed term opportunity until 12/03/2027 (parental leave)
• Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung / Melbourne CBD based role (hybrid – 3 days in office)

About the opportunity

The Workers Compensation Independent Review Service provides a non-statutory review framework for decisions made by claims agents under the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 and Accident Compensation Act 1985 on behalf of WorkSafe. 

WCIRS reviews disputed workers’ compensation decisions in a manner that ensures fair, reasonable and sustainable outcomes that assist WorkSafe to support workers through their recovery and provide effective occupational rehabilitation and early return to work through suitable employment opportunities.

As an Independent Review Officer you will be expected to undertake a high level of complex investigative and analytical work that has significant implications across WorkSafe Victoria operations while working within clear and established management systems, legislative/regulatory provisions and professional standards.

Key accountabilities

• Investigate and determine applications for review of disputed WorkSafe agent decisions and other WorkSafe decisions in a fair, reasonable and timely manner.
• Write clear and logical decisions setting out the basis for decision, relevant findings of fact and the material on which those findings were based.
• Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal stakeholders and provide support and learning opportunities relating to or arising out of a non-statutory review.
• Communicate decision outcomes of reviews and the reasons for those outcomes to workers, agents or other authorised decision-makers and relevant WorkSafe staff in a timely and professional manner.
• Liaise with and provide instruction and guidance to employers, employees and other duty holders in relation to the review process.
• In a continuous improvement dynamic –
  • provide guidance to WorkSafe staff and agents on matters relating to the review process, including trends, issues or feedback identified during reviews that support fair, reasonable, consistent and sustainable decision-making objective; and
  • continuously review and, where necessary, provide feedback to the Lead Counsel and Senior Independent Review Officers in the revision and update of procedures, processes and policies within the independent review team.

Please ensure you review the Position Description here for additional information on accountabilities for this role.

About you

You are an experienced legal professional with demonstrated expertise as a legal advocate or policy specialist within the Victorian workers’ compensation framework. You have highly developed written and verbal communication skills and can work independently with minimal supervision, delivering high-quality outcomes in a complex environment with competing stakeholder interests and strict statutory deadlines.

More specifically, you will have:

• Demonstrated experience as a technical expert or a complex specialist as a legal advocate or policy specialist in the Victorian workers’ compensation framework.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting administrative and merit reviews or formal organisational investigations.
• Highly developed and demonstrated knowledge of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act (Vic) 2013 and the Victorian workers’ compensation statutory framework.
• Highly developed alternative dispute resolution, conflict resolution and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to assess competing and complex arguments and to reach logical and sustainable conclusions based on relevant material.
• Demonstrated ability to write sound logical and sustainable decisions capable of withstanding internal and external scrutiny, including scrutiny by Courts and Tribunals.    
• Capacity to deal effectively and tactfully with a wide range of stakeholders in the review context, including workers, employers, lawyers and other representatives. 
• Demonstrated ability to present review outcomes and learnings to internal and external stakeholder groups.

Highly Desirable

• Sound understanding of the principles of administrative review, and their application to the WorkSafe review context.
• Understanding of the principles of statutory interpretation and legal precedent. 
• A tertiary undergraduate degree in law or equivalent legal studies; and/or
• TAFE Certificate IV in Personal Injury Management or equivalent.

Working with us

At WorkSafe, our goal is for every employee to feel connected, safe, and valued within their team, for teams to feel appreciated in the workplace, and for WorkSafe to be respected in the community.

We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for delivering the best outcomes for the Victorian community. We strongly encourage applications from all individuals, including First Nations people, people with disabilities, those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and individuals of all sexualities and genders.  

What’s next?

Applications close 11:00pm Tuesday 22 September 2026. Click the link to apply, and join us in making a difference to Victorian lives.

Only applications submitted via the WorkSafe Careers website will be considered.

Preferred candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and/or other checks as required for the position as part of the recruitment process.

Eligibility for ongoing employment with WorkSafe Victoria requires Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency.

Due to the volume of applications received, individualised feedback will only be provided to candidates who progress to interview stage.

To ensure a fair and open recruitment process, we request that you complete all parts of the process without using AI tools. We want to understand your professional skills, experience and capabilities independent of an AI view.

For further enquiries please contact Bianca Stojanovski via email bianca_stojanovski@worksafe.vic.gov.au