CEO LGIS
[email protected]
There’s less than eight weeks to go before we say goodbye to 2023/24 and the vast majority of members have completed their declarations for the 2024/25 membership year.
Thank you to all our members for your diligence in the renewal declaration process. We know it comes at a
busy time of year and answering all the questions can be onerous.
We appreciate your efforts and member feedback has indicated that our improvements to the online renewal declaration have been well received – particularly the collaborative functions allowing multiple staff to be involved in the process and the ability to import data from last year.
We are analysing the information you’ve provided, considering claims performance, and negotiating with our reinsurance partners to secure terms for 2024/25. The range and quality of data collected enables the wide-ranging exposures of the sector to continue to be supported by indemnity providers, ensuring the Scheme can appropriately respond to members claims.
The Scheme’s performance is a critical factor in setting membership contributions. 2023/24 is predicted
to finish slightly ahead of budget, ensuring the ongoing delivery of sustainable long-term protection of the sector. The year has not been without challenges, especially in workers’ compensation, but the Scheme’s prudent fiscal management has ensured a good position for the sector.
This edition of Risk Matters we dip our toe into a diverse range of issues. This feature explores the challenges of managing anti-social behaviour and celebrates the excellent results achieved by the Town of Port Hedland.
With workers’ compensation claims firmly in focus we’ve got two articles on prevention services – our multi-faceted psychological safe programme, and benefits of social connection within the workplace from our health and wellbeing programme.
Our ‘Ask an Expert’ with People risk Consultant Katherine Kempin answers a common question from members ‘How do we manage psychosocial hazards?’. Katherine takes us through how to apply a risk management approach to these hazards to reduce potential psychological injury.
We’ve also been out on the road providing members with information on the new Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023 (WA). Over 130 local government officers have joined us to learn about the ramifications for their local government and their Scheme, LGIS.
Cyber threats continue to grow for organisations across Australia and unfortunately local government is not immune. In this edition incident response is under the microscope.
We’ve successfully defended a claim on behalf of the Shire of Denmark, and we explore the lessons from this case. It highlights the importance of well implemented and documented maintenance and management programmes.
We also look at the emerging issues surrounding micro-mobility options (e.g. e-scooters and e-bikes). Members need to consider diverse new concerns particularly the need for controls to reduce the possibility of lithium-ion fires.
We love hearing from members, so please send any feedback on this edition or questions for ‘Ask an Expert’ through to Risk Matters editor, Pia Duxbury at [email protected]
A recent case involving the Shire of Denmark and a tourist turned on
whether pea gravel at the bottom of some stairs was an obvious risk and
what is the extent of a local government’s duty of care in relation to obvious risks.
LGIS, together with WorkCover WA and legal partners Mills Oakley and Moray & Agnew have delivered four sector specific information sessions on the new Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act (2023) WA.
Members have been asking ‘How do we manage the use and charging of e-scooter and bikes (micro-mobility)?’. Charging stations and facilities have already been made available by some members while others are considering the potential benefits.
Welcome to our last edition of Risk Matters for 2023. We always enjoy an opportunity to catch up with members, and in the last quarter of 2023 there’s been plenty.
It’s summer! That time of the year when everyone is ready to celebrate and go on holidays. Tourists all across the country and within Western Australia flock to popular spots to relax and enjoy our beautiful state.
A woman in her 50s lost her balance and fell while stepping up over a concrete mound within a popular caravan park. She fractured her ankle and held one of our regional members liable for the injury and loss suffered, alleged to have been $190k.
LGIS is the unifying name for the dedicated suite of risk financing and management services for WA local governments, established by the WA Local Government Association in conjunction with JLT Public Sector (part of the Marsh group of companies). LGIS is managed by JLT Public Sector (ABN 69 009 098 864 AFS Licence 226827).
Risk Matters, via this website, is designed to keep members, their staff and elected members informed on topical risk management and insurance issues and LGIS programs and services.
