by Talei Morgan, head of liability – Australia An increasing number of advertisements have surfaced across some states in Australia for personal injury claims as a result of slip and fall incidents in supermarkets. A recent ACT Court of Appeal decision may explain this development. A look back In 2022, the ACT Supreme Court ruled against a […]

SYDNEY, 21 March 2023 — Sedgwick, a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, has named Andre Mataia head of its construction adjusting team in Australia. The promotion showcases the growth of Sedgwick’s construction offerings in Australia. Mataia has over 22 years of experience working for insurers and loss adjusting firms in Australia […]

Appointment builds upon the company’s risk strategy and enhances its governance, risk and compliance systems for the Australian market SYDNEY, 14 March 2023 – Sedgwick, a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, has appointed Kate Johnstone as its head of risk in Australia. Johnstone brings to Sedgwick over 25 years of […]

By Kimberly George – global head, innovation and product development and Shane O’Dea – head of strategic partnerships and programs, workers compensation Most personal injury and workers compensation schemes around the globe are focusing on the injured worker being at the center of everything they do. When we take a step back and look at […]

Last Wednesday, flood warnings were issued across Southeastern Australia after a powerful storm brought gushing rainfall that quickly flooded streets and caused rivers and streams to swell to dangerous levels. Hundreds were evacuated and thousands were without power. Victoria is the worst-affected state with some towns experiencing the highest river peaks in decades. Several communities […]

By Neil Wright, head of liability, Australia Professional indemnity insurance — known elsewhere as professional liability or errors and omissions (E&O) — is a form of liability coverage for specialists who provide professional advice or services to customers. In Australia, this coverage is mandatory for certain professions. Professional indemnity vs. general liability Professional indemnity claims present a very […]

Panelists deliver dynamic insights into the current construction market conditions today and next 10 years SYDNEY, 12 October 2022 – Sedgwick, a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions hosted an industry forum for residential builders and the broader industry in Sydney on Tuesday, 11 October. As a leader in the home warranty […]

by Shane O’Dea, head of strategic partnerships and programs, workers compensation During the Personal Injury & Disability National Conference, an array of stakeholders across Australia will come together to discuss outcomes and industry best practices for the motor accident, workers compensation, disability and life insurance sectors. Our own experts will take part in a session […]

By James McIntosh – national manager, technical services and Paul Riches – manager, building consultancy division There is no portion of the construction industry that is immune to the trade and material supply challenges. The issues are widespread across all sectors of the domestic, commercial and infrastructure/civil markets. During the Residential Builders Forum, an array of […]

By Margot De Villiers, head of marine and executive surveyor, major and complex loss, Australia Imagine you purchase 10 timber crates of tools from a supplier halfway around the world. To get to you, the tools embark on a long and complicated journey: traveling on land (via train or truck) from the factory to an […]

By Shane O’Dea, head of strategic partnerships and programs, workers compensation As David Stills wrote in a previous blog, workers compensation is comprised of multiple state systems across the U.S., each with their own unique set of rules and regulations that are in constant flux. The environment is relatively similar in Australian, New Zealand and […]

By Jillian Pancott, senior manager, forensic advisory services, Australia Product recalls impact thousands of companies each year — putting people and brands at risk. The consequences to a company’s reputation, market share and bottom line can be devastating. While the cause behind recalls can vary widely — from salmonella cases to quality control issues — […]

By Shane O’Dea, head of strategic partnerships and programs, workers compensation When an employee is unable to work due to an illness or injury, early communication is key to improving recovery and return to work outcomes. In fact, research in Australia suggests that when contact is made with an injured worker within the first three days post-injury, […]

By Steve Powell, EVP, loss adjusting; Clare Cordingley, senior manager, major event response; and Brad Mountford, head of business development, Australia You probably recall that Australia experienced devastating bushfires in 2019-2020, as the catastrophe garnered global headlines. Regrettably, many fewer people beyond Australia are familiar with an even costlier and more recent disaster: the severe flooding that […]

By Shane O’Dea, head of strategic partnerships and programs, workers compensation Grabbing breakfast on-the-go, rushing to catch public transportation, or getting stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic in order to work the traditional 9-to-5 is no longer the standard for many in the workforce in Australia and around the world. Remote, hybrid and flexible work options continue to present […]

By Andrew Buchanan, head of construction liability, Australia The Supreme Court of New South Wales recently delivered an important decision on the duty of care owed by building practitioners under the highly publicised Design and Building Practitioners (DBP) Act, which took effect on 11 June 2020. Both the act and the court’s ruling merit further […]

By Shane O’Dea, head of strategic partnerships and programs, workers compensation Regardless of geographic location, when an injured worker is unfamiliar with the workers’ compensation journey it can be daunting to navigate on their own. It may lead to frustration, fear, disengagement, and further harm to their mental health. There is significant value in employers, […]

By James McIntosh, national manager, technical services and Bruce Visser, technical manager, repair standards Digital twin provides an accurate and transparent representation of the inside and outside of a property. It allows all stakeholders to have full visibility of the damage and be able to discuss repairs openly with claims handlers, builders and other property […]

By Jake Carter, Implementation and projects From manual forms and paper clips to the invention of the computer, the way claims are handled has certainly transformed. While it’s fair to say the evolution of technology in the insurance industry has not always been smooth, customer experience and better utilisation of data are front of mind. […]

By Rodney Milford, partner, forensic advisory services and Tom O’Hara, manager, forensic advisory services On 21 February 2022, the Full Court of the Federal Court delivered the highly anticipated judgment in the appeal of the second Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) business interruption test case. In this update, we explore the impact of this decision […]

SYDNEY, 8 March 2022 – Sedgwick, a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, welcomes Shane O’Dea as head of strategic partnerships and programs in workers’ compensation for its Australia operations. O’Dea will have responsibility for cultivating Sedgwick’s profile and presence in Australia by establishing strategic partnerships that deliver tangible value and outcomes. […]

Sedgwick, together with the rest of Australia, has watched with sadness the impact and loss from the floods of the past week. For some people along the east coast, this is the second flooding of their homes in recent memory. We’re here to support you.With over 65,000 claims received so far, we mobilised our local […]

SYDNEY, Feb. 15, 2022 – Sedgwick, a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, today announced that Angela Hornby has joined its Sedgwick University division in Australia as head of capability advancement. Hornby brings to Sedgwick over 15 years’ experience and specialization in talent, capability and performance. She has an extensive understanding […]

SYDNEY, Feb. 8, 2022 – Sedgwick, a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, will begin offering its acclaimed Sedgwick University training programs in Australia to develop, upskill, and attract the next generation of claims professionals. In December 2021, Sedgwick University rolled out the plans for a global footprint to provide state-of-the-art claims and […]

Acquisition marks expansion of absence and injury management services, a first for Sedgwick in Australia SYDNEY, Feb. 1, 2022 – Sedgwick, a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, announced it has acquired Direct Health Solutions (DHS), a leading specialist provider of employer-based telehealth solutions in Australia. With this acquisition, Sedgwick — the world’s […]

SYDNEY, 20 January 2022 – Sedgwick, a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, has appointed Tracey Harris its chief operating officer in Australia. As in-country COO within our expansive property and professional services business, Harris will also play a pivotal role in launching Sedgwick capability advancement and workforce absence and compensation […]

By Lisa Frederick, quality assurance manager, Australia After an extended battle with COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdown, Australia is slowly beginning to lessen border restrictions and reopen its economy. A federal roadmap led the way — supported by an underlying framework created by the states and territories with rules equal to or more restrictive than […]

By Leon Briggs, head of property & national executive adjuster, Australia In most court decisions there can be surprises, and one could say that the decision of Jagot J in the Second COVID-19 Insurance Test Case had its own share of the unexpected. In reviewing the decision in the Second Test Cases, the aspects that […]

By Diego Ascani, Chief executive officer, Australia With its wide array of mountains, rain forests, beaches and deserts, Australia offers wide interest and appeal to those from around the world. The impact of the pandemic has changed our lives, work and the vacation destination on a scale never seen before. What might surprise people is […]

By Kimberley Daley, Head of professional services Australia Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, there has been intense interest in the extent to which business interruption policies would respond to claims for business losses arising from COVID-19. In September 2020, Sedgwick published an extensive update on the impact of COVID-19 around the globe […]

By Leon Briggs, Head of property & national executive adjuster, Sedgwick Australia The Mansfield earthquake in Victoria, Australia brought back a decade of memories dealing with hundreds of claims worth billions of dollars in Christchurch. While Mansfield is not a similar crisis to Christchurch (New Zealand) or Newcastle (Australia), and no loss of life or […]

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit near Mansfield in the State of Victoria on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 9:15 a.m. The earthquake is the largest Victoria has ever experienced. It affected the whole state, including the major city of Melbourne. Following the quake, three aftershocks were reported and more are expected. At this time, no serious […]

SYDNEY, 11 Aug. 2021 – Sedgwick, a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, further strengthened its team in Sydney with the appointment of Clare Cordingley as senior manager, major event response. In this new role, Cordingley will be responsible for preparing, practicing and leading Sedgwick’s major event response and strategy in Australia […]