The TAC has launched an updated and improved Documentation Guide to enhance the relevance and timeliness of medical material sent to examiners.

The new guide is applicable to examinations for impairment, serious injury and common law. The previous version of the guide was specific to impairment examinations only.

The new Documentation Guide can be accessed under the Resources tab on this webpage.

This Documentation Guide:

• Provides greater clarity for TAC staff and personal injury lawyers about the information recommended to be sent to examiners, and information not recommended. This includes specific details tailored to 20 medical specialties.
• Helps avoid irrelevant and duplicate medical material sent to examiners. This supports the completion of high-quality assessments, maintains client privacy and avoids unnecessary costs.
• Was reviewed in consultation with members of the Law Institute of Victoria and the Australian Lawyers Alliance, in line with the principles of the Joint Medical Examination Protocols.

The TAC recognises that the Documentation Guide is to be used in a practical and flexible manner. All questions and material should be provided to the examiner, and a copy sent to the TAC, at the earliest opportunity, no later than 14 days prior to the appointment date. This allows examiners sufficient time to review the medical material to adequately prepare for the examination and to avoid the possibility of the appointment needing to be rescheduled.

We previously advised that the updated protocols online forms would no longer have a save draft option. In response to feedback, we have implemented an interim solution that allows users to save a draft and complete their submission later.

Important information about saved drafts

• Attachments must NOT be uploaded until the form is ready to submit.
• Any attachments uploaded and saved before submission are added at the user's risk.
• The security of information saved in draft mode cannot be guaranteed by the TAC until the form is submitted.

This approach balances the user need to complete and verify forms before submission without entering the information multiple times, with the TAC's need to enable automated ingestion of form data and attachments.

The recently updated JME Request Form gives the submitting solicitor the option to enter their client’s email address, allowing the client to then receive TAC information about impairments benefits. Submitting the form with the email address provided will initiate an automatic email to the client. This email confirms the JME request, contains a brief overview of impairments benefits and provides a link to the TAC website for further details, including access to the impairment brochure.

As part of the Protocols Optimisation program, the TAC, ALA and LIV are trialling a new approach to dispute resolution, designed to improve efficiency and support earlier outcomes for clients.

The Dispute Pathways Innovation Trial introduces changes to the Dispute Resolution Application Form to enable better triage and more proactive engagement in resolving disputes.

The trial will commence on 19 March 2025 and run initially for three months. A joint review of the trial outcomes will take place in June 2025. Any recommendations or adjustments will be made via the Protocols Working Group.

New information requested on the Dispute Application Form

To facilitate faster triage and outcomes for clients, Lawyers will now be asked to identify:

• The dispute type: Fast Track, Time Limit, or Standard.
• The outcome the client is seeking (noting that this is on a without prejudice basis and does not affect the client’s right to explore other options or revise their position).

These changes aim to provide greater clarity on client goals and enable the TAC to proactively assess opportunities for resolution at the earliest stage.

Dispute Pathways Categories

Fast Track

For disputes lodged within one month of the TAC's decision, related to:

• TAC claim eligibility
• Income
• Surgery (within three months of the scheduled surgery date)
• Urgent hospital admission

Lawyer will receive direct communication from the TAC via phone or email to agree on the next steps which may include a priority conference. The provision of 28-day documentation will be subject to this agreement.

Time Limit

For disputes lodged to preserve a client’s right to review, while necessary lodgement information is collected or a concurrent matter is resolved. The Lawyer must nominate a review date no later than 120 days away, upon which they anticipate the matter will be ready to proceed or an update will be provided to the TAC.

Lawyer will receive an acknowledgment of receipt from the TAC and confirmation of the review date provided. A pre-issue review will not commence, and 28-day documentation will not be automatically provided following lodgement. The pre-issue review may commence after the nominated review date, once it is confirmed that the matter is ready to proceed.

Standard

When Fast Track and Time Limit pathways do not apply. A pre-issue review will commence and 28-day documentation will be provided following lodgement.

Signed Client Statement

Historically, the TAC’s requirement for a signed client statement, as outlined in the No Fault Dispute Resolution Protocol, has been inconsistent.

To deliver effective outcomes for clients, it is critical that they are fully engaged in the resolution process and able to provide instructions in a timely manner.

As part of this trial, we will establish a consistent requirement that emphasises the role of the client in the resolution process. This will enable both lawyers and the TAC to meet their obligations under the Protocols.

We will test the following timing requirements for signed client statements:

• Fast Track – Lawyer to provide signed client statement by agreement of parties.
• Time Limit - Lawyer should provide signed client statement within 120 days from DR lodgement or another date by agreement of parties.
• Standard - Lawyer should provide signed client statement at DR lodgement.

We appreciate your support as we trial this new approach to streamline dispute resolution, enhance client outcomes, and improve the transparency and integrity of the Protocols.

The TAC is improving a number of forms used by legal professionals, including those for Joint Medical Examinations (JMEs). These changes are effective from Tuesday 19 March 2025.

The following forms can be accessed under the Resources tab.

New option on the JME Request Form

A new option will be available on the JME Request Form to indicate the purpose of the examination. This will allow legal professionals to select the purpose of the exam is for ‘Impairment and Serious Injury (dual purpose)’.

Legal professionals should select this option when both types of compensation are relevant to their client’s case, supporting efficient handling, reducing the need for future IMEs and enabling clients to follow their best path to compensation.

Please note that the TAC is working to align our internal processes with this new dual purpose selection option. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we make these changes to our internal processes.

New online JME Supplementary Request Form

An online JME Supplementary Request Form will be available. This will allow legal professionals to request approval for a supplementary report to help streamline the review process.

New web addresses for TAC Protocols forms

These online TAC Protocols forms will have new URLs and minor changes to improve usability:

• JME Request Form
• JME Reschedule Form
• Impairment Application Form
• Serious Injury Application Form
• Dispute Resolution Application Form

Please note:

• Multiple documents can be uploaded when submitting a form, with each file up to 21MB, allowing for easier document sharing with the TAC.
• Allowed file types are PDF, image (jpg, jpeg, tif, tiff, png, bmp, gif) Word (docx, doc), Excel (xlsx, xls), text (txt, rtf), CSV and email (eml, msg).
• A copy of the submission will be emailed to the address entered under ‘client’s lawyer’. This will be your confirmation of submission. A confirmation code will no longer be provided.
• You will need to submit a form in a single session. The forms no longer have an option to save a draft form and resume at a later date.
• Please update any bookmarks. Previous URLs for these forms will forward to the form list under the Resources tab.

With Christmas not far around the corner, we are nominating Monday the 20th January 2025 as the due date for any requests or responses due between 23rd December 2024 and 17th January 2025.

This applies to both TAC (impairment/serious injury/common law/disputes) and Plaintiff lawyer responses.

This is necessary to ensure the TAC can provide timely responses and minimise the impact of unnecessary follow-ups.

If you have a particularly urgent matter, please contact the operator directly.  Katrina Kasparian may also be contacted for escalations of Impairment related matters, Paula Heron, Joel Cooper or Matt Napier for Serious Injury, Jason Williams for Common Law and Kirsty Milne for Disputes.

The TAC is making changes to how it acknowledges receipt of No Fault Dispute Resolution Protocols applications lodged online, to minimise duplication and improve efficiency.

Currently, when a dispute is lodged via the online form on the TAC website, the sender receives an automatic return notification that reads: 'Thank you for submitting your Dispute Resolution Application. Your application has been received by the TAC and will be actioned according to No Fault Dispute Resolution Protocols. If you have any enquiries, please contact review@tac.vic.gov.au.' The TAC then sends a further acknowledgement letter within 7 days, confirming the lodgement and reviewable decision/s in dispute.

From today, the TAC will no longer send a further acknowledgement of applications made via the online form. The automatic notification will be considered sufficient confirmation that the lodgement is received. Confirmation of the reviewable decision/s in dispute will be provided in the TAC's letter accompanying the exchange of documents under Chapter 6.

In the unlikely event that your office does not receive an automatic notification within 24 hours of making an online lodgement, please contact review@tac.vic.gov.au to investigate.