AMA Victoria; trading as Solutions Plus Training, delivers courses in assessing permanent impairment in the NSW workers compensation scheme. The training is in the NSW workers compensation guidelines for the evaluation of permanent impairment 4th edition (the Guidelines), in conjunction with the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment 5th Edition (AMA5).

Courses provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the Guidelines and AMA5 as a methodology for determining permanent impairment of an individual, a thorough knowledge of terminology and principles of impairment assessment evaluation as specified in the Guidelines and the ability to achieve consistency in interpretation and application of the Guidelines.

The training involves completing the Core module and at least one specialty module. The Core module covers the key concepts of impairment assessment and the requirements of the legislation. Specialty modules are chosen on the basis of the individual’s qualifications, training and experience and the types of impairment assessment the practitioner wishes to undertake.

The successful completion of the Core module and at least one specialty module is one of the criteria that a prospective impairment assessor must meet in order to apply to be listed on the SIRA workers compensation website.

Although the training is developed for delivery to Specialist Medical Practitioners wishing to become listed assessors of permanent impairment with SIRA workers compensation, other parties such as General Practitioners, solicitors and insurers are welcome to undertake the training to better understand the assessment and reports of permanent impairment.