Raising standards essential for personal injury management

Raising standards essential for personal injury management – Suncorp

Media Release

A relentless focus on professionalising personal injury management and ongoing recognition of achievement is essential for the industry to progress.

“Personal injury management has a profound impact on the lives of people and their families, so it’s critical that it’s performed at the highest possible level,” said Mr Paul Smeaton, Executive General Manager of Statutory Claims with Suncorp Commercial Insurance.

“The degree of specialist knowledge and skill required to be effective in personal injury management is extremely high, and it’s the responsibility of all players to ensure that standards continue to rise.”

The recent announcement of finalists for the Personal Injury Education Foundation (PIEF) 2012 Excellence in Personal Injury Management awards demonstrates the high levels of performance that are being achieved across the sector.

“I would like to congratulate all finalists and nominees for their achievements and for contributing to the development of the industry as a whole,” said Mr Smeaton.

“It is gratifying to see that an industry that performs such an important service to the Australian community is increasingly being recognised as a high-value profession.”

Three Suncorp employees have been announced as finalists in the 2012 Excellence in Personal Injury Management awards.

“Suncorp has made a substantial investment over the past 18 months in the professional development of our personal injury managers, and this investment is paying off,” said Mr Smeaton.

“The recognition of our finalists is a welcome reflection of the work that is being done within Suncorp to raise standards and improve health outcomes.”

As Australia’s largest personal injury insurer, Suncorp currently has over 150 staff enrolled in tertiary education.

The qualifications being undertaking include the Certificate III in Financial Services, Certificate IV in General Insurance, Diploma in Personal Injury Management and Master of Management (Personal Injury).

The Suncorp finalists are:

Nicole Leneve, Claims Advisor – Excellence in Case and Injury Management. Nicole’s organisational ability, proactive approach to claims management and capacity to build positive relationships has produced outstanding results for her portfolio of injured workers and their employers.

Linda Nicholson, Injury Management Advisor – Excellence in Case and Injury Management (Serious Injury). Linda is highly respected as an injury management professional and mentor, finding innovative solutions based on extensive research to achieve the best health outcomes.

Matthew Kayrooz, Executive Manager NSW CTP Portfolio – Outstanding Contribution by an Individual. Matt has been actively involved in disability and scheme reform as well as extensive work supporting charitable organisations over more than 30 years in the industry.

The awards will be held in Brisbane on 29 August 2012.

For further information contact:

Rob White

External Communications Manager

Commercial Insurance

Suncorp

Ph. 02 8121 0467

Mob. 0411 881 887

Jake Krausmann

Senior Communications Advisor

Commercial Insurance

Suncorp