icare operates the Bushfire Fighters Compensation Fund on behalf of the Self Insurance Corporation (SICorp). 

As part of the implementation the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment (Firefighters) Act 2025 (Act) icare is seeking applications from individuals to be members of the Advisory Panel established under s32A of the act.

Members of the Advisory Panel will be appointed by the Minister for Insurance and Care NSW (icare). 

The Advisory Panel will review, in accordance with Guidelines issued by the Minister, all claims made by volunteer firefighters in relation to a disease that is cancer as specified in the Workers Compensation Act, 1987.  Specifically, the Advisory Panel will review the information available to provide advice to icare on whether the volunteer firefighter has met the frontline hazardous firefighting test and the prescribed qualifications in bushfire fighting. 

Members of the Panel must have qualifications and/or contemporaneous expertise in at least one of the following:

• Firefighting
• Workers compensation
• Legal profession
• Medical profession or scientific research relating to occupational exposure and cancers.

The nature of the advice requires a unique blend of skills in the panel.  Optimally the appointees will have experience in two or more of the areas identified or extensive recognised experience in one area.  The decisions of the panel will have an impact on individual firefighters who are making claims for cancer.   

Members of the Advisory Panel must not be:

• Current members of a paid or volunteer firefighting organisation
• An official of an industrial body responsible for an enterprise agreement that applies to a paid or volunteer firefighting organisation

Panel members will be remunerated at a rate of:

• Chair $1,865 per meeting
• Member $1,490 per meeting

This remuneration includes all preparatory and follow up work.

Panel members will be appointed for a term not exceeding 3 years. 

Meetings will be scheduled on a needs basis, with the frequency estimated to be once per month.

Any Panel Member who has current full-time employment within the NSW Public Sector will not be paid for work on the Panel and will require endorsement from their employing agency to be appointed.

Applicants submitting an EOI will be assessed against demonstration of the criteria below:

• their qualifications and/or expertise in the four areas identified, with the focus on experience in NSW where relevant (i.e. NSW Workers Compensation Scheme)
• ability to meet operational requirements of the Panel
• previous and relevant experiences that would assist them undertaking the role
• ability to analyse information, judgement and contribute constructively to the Panel decision
• capacity to summarise complex information and arguments and formulate advice in a professional and effective manner
• identify membership of relevant industry bodies
• agree to provide any information about pecuniary and other interests

Applicants who wish to indicate interest in seeking to undertake the Chairperson role should address the additional criteria of:

capacity to lead others in the resolution of complex information

Applications cannot be accepted from current members of a paid or volunteer firefighting organisation, or an official of an industrial body responsible for an enterprise agreement that applies to a paid or volunteer firefighting organisation.