30 June 2003 Media Statement

ACC advisory groups will strengthen stakeholder voice

A wide range of non-governmental stakeholders will have a voice on how the ACC scheme is run, following the establishment of two new ministerial advisory groups, ACC Minister Ruth Dyson said today.

The two new groups are the ACC Ministerial Advisory Group, and the Ministerial Advisory Panel on Work-Related Gradual Process, Disease or Infection.

The ACC Ministerial Advisory Group, which met for the first time last Thursday (25 June), will provide independent and specialist advice to the minister on the operation, design and performance of ACC. The group is chaired by the ACC Minister. Its members are David Gerrard, Linda Beck, Lorna Dyall, Tim Cleary, Ross Wilson, Aniva Lawrence, and Nicola Drayton-Glesti.

The Ministerial Advisory Panel on Work-Related Gradual Process, Disease or Infection, which will meet for the first time on 23 July, will provide independent advice to the minister on issues relating specifically to work-related gradual process, disease or infection. The panel will be chaired by Wellington Queens Counsel Dr David Collins. Its members are Dr Evan Dryson, Professor Neil Pearce, Hazel Armstrong, David Wutzler, Tony Wilton and Karen Below.

The moves follow the establishment earlier this year of the ACC Consumers’ Outlook Group, which provides ACC with community advice on claimant service issues.

Ruth Dyson said the establishment of the advisory groups would ensure that ACC had access to a wide cross-section of views from non-governmental stakeholders.

“The Ministerial Advisory Group provides the opportunity for a range of perspectives to be taken into account on any issues concerning ACC’s operation and performance, and on the design of the scheme itself.

“The Panel on Work-Related Gradual Process, Disease or Infection provides opportunities for occupational health and safety experts to provide independent advice in an area where advances in medical knowledge are constantly challenging current assumptions and which requires continuous scrutiny.

“The establishment of these advisory groups is a further move towards ensuring the ACC scheme is fair, and is seen to be fair, for all of those associated with it.”

MINISTERIAL ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS

Mr David Gerrard: 25 years experience in clinical practice and university teaching predominantly in sports medicine; is a widely published academic in injury prevention research; collaborated in review of ACC Sport Smart initiative; wide networks in sport injury sector; in 1995 received an OBE for services to medicine and sport.

Ms Linda Beck: legal background in claimant advocacy and support, and complaints management; holds a number of positions in community organisations and disability sector, including Disabled Persons Assembly; in 2000 received NZ Foundation for the Blind Achievers Award for academic study.

Ms Lorna Dyall: background in public health, particularly in Maori and Pacific health, and community and mental health. Has worked on a range of projects and research activities for Maori health, bringing a further ACC claimant perspective to the panel.

Mr Tim Cleary: specialises in employer health and safety issues for the meat industry, and in employment and ACC law; deals with ACC disputes and liaises between employers and ACC; reviewer of accident insurance legislation; former ACC corporate solicitor.

Mr Ross Wilson: extensive knowledge of issues surrounding employment policy and ACC; president of the NZ Council of Trade Unions since 1999; former deputy chair of ACC; has published articles and presented conference papers on occupational safety and health, ACC, and employment law and policy. .

Dr Aniva Lawrence: general practitioner; involved in practical application of ACC legislation with Pacific peoples; member of Pasifika Medical Association of NZ; has also worked in psychiatry, general medicine, general surgery and orthopaedics.

Ms Nicola Drayton-Glesti: specialises in provision ofmedico-legal, personal injury, accident compensation, injury prevention and rehabilitation legal advice; owns small international specialist legal practice; works with ACC claimants and ACC, including Catalyst.

MINISTERIAL ADVISORY PANEL ON WORK-RELATED GRADUAL PROCESS, DISEASE OR INFECTION

Dr David Collins (chair): Medical law specialist; a practising lawyer with a strong professional interest in ACC litigation; chair of the Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal and the Pharmacy Disciplinary Tribunal. Wellington.

Dr Evan Dryson: Occupational medicine specialist, lecturer and president of the Australasian College of Medicine - Faculty of Occupational Medicine; a practising specialist occupational physician and fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational Medicine. Auckland.

Professor Neil Pearce: Director of the Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University; epidemiologist undertaking research into occupational cancer and asthma; has a substantial history of advisory posts in the health arena. Wellington.

Ms Hazel Armstrong: Barrister; advisor to Department of Labour on health and safety; has experience with Pacific Island and Maori workers and as a legal practitioner and representative for people applying for cover and entitlement for work related gradual process claims. Wellington.

Mr David Wutzler: Occupational health and safety consultant with Employers & Manufacturers Association; has extensive experience with occupational safety and health issues and has represented employers on many occasions on ACC matters. Wellington.

Mr Tony Wilton: General counsel, New Zealand Amalgamated Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union; foundation chair of Hutt Valley Community Law Centre Trust; represents union members in ACC review and appeal proceedings. Wellington.

Ms Karen Below: Joint owner of Mahi Kotari – Work One Limited, a private practice specialising in health promotion and injury prevention for Maori and Pasifika clients; an occupational therapist with extensive clinical experience; convenor for He Roopu Whakapiri, advisors on bicultural best practice and professional development to the New Zealand Association of Occupational Therapy. Auckland.

ENDS

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