Senior Legal Counsel / Senior Independent Review Officer
- Investigate and determine applications for review of disputed WorkSafe agent decisions.
- Engage and consult with internal and external stakeholders in the independent review function.
- Write clear and logical review findings and communicate decision outcomes.
Senior Legal Counsel / Senior Independent Review Officer
- $168,512.00 per annum + 12% superannuation
- Full time, ongoing opportunity
- Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung / Melbourne CBD based role (hybrid – 3 days in office)
About the role
The Workers Compensation Independent Review Service (WCIRS) provides a non-statutory review framework for decisions made by claims agents under the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 and Accident Compensation Act 1985 on behalf of WorkSafe.
WCIRS reviews disputed workers’ compensation decisions in a manner that ensures fair, reasonable and sustainable outcomes that assist WorkSafe to support workers through their recovery and provide effective occupational rehabilitation and early return to work through suitable employment opportunities.
The Senior Legal Counsel / Senior Independent Review Officer is expected to undertake a high level of complex investigative and analytical work that has significant implications across WorkSafe Victoria operations while working within clear and established management systems, legislative/regulatory provisions and professional standards.
Key accountabilities
- Investigate and determine applications for review of disputed WorkSafe agent decisions and WorkSafe decisions in a fair, reasonable and timely manner.
- Supports Lead Counsel - WCIRS in sustainable decision-making relating to workers’ compensation claims and entitlements.
- Engages and consults with relevant internal and external stakeholders in the operation of the independent review function, including the development of processes, precedents and training of relevant non-statutory independent review staff and associated internal stakeholders.
- Gather and analyse information relating to quality decision making frameworks, procedures, processes and policies which will facilitate the design and implementation of the non-statutory review function.
- Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal stakeholders and provide support and learning opportunities relating to or arising out of a non-statutory review.
- Write clear and logical review findings setting out the basis for the findings including relevant findings of fact and the material on which those findings were based.
- Communicate decision outcomes of reviews and the reasons for those outcomes to workers, agents or other authorised decision-makers and relevant WorkSafe staff in a timely and professional manner.
- In a continuous improvement dynamic –
- provide guidance to WorkSafe staff and agents on matters relating to the review process, including trends, issues or feedback identified during reviews that support fair, reasonable, consistent and sustainable decision-making objective; and
- continuously review and, where necessary, provide feedback to the Lead Counsel in the revision and update of procedures, processes and policies within the independent review team.
- mentor and assist other decision-makers within the Independent Review function
Please ensure you review the Position Description for additional information on accountabilities for this role.
About you
You have demonstrated experience as a technical expert or a complex specialist as a legal advocate or policy specialist in the Victorian workers’ compensation framework. Your written and verbal communication skills will be highly developed and you will have the ability to work independently with minimal supervision in an environment of internal and stakeholder pressure, and strict statutory deadlines.
More specifically you will have:
- Demonstrated experience as a technical expert or a complex specialist as a legal advocate or policy specialist in the Victorian workers’ compensation framework.
- Highly developed and demonstrated knowledge of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 (Vic) and Accident Compensation Act 1985 (Vic), the Victorian workers’ compensation statutory framework and relevant court decisions.
- Highly developed alternative dispute resolution, conflict resolution and facilitation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to provide solutions for defined functional objectives to improve current practices.
- Demonstrated capacity to deal with a wide range of stakeholders effectively, empathetically and tactfully in the review context, including workers, employers, decision-makers, the legal profession and other external stakeholder representatives.
- Demonstrated ability to assess competing and complex evidence and to reach logical and sustainable conclusions based on relevant material.
- Demonstrated ability to write sound logical and sustainable decisions capable of withstanding internal and external review, including scrutiny by Courts and Tribunals.
- A high level of personal integrity.
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Sound understanding of the principles of administrative review, and their application to the WorkSafe review context.
- Understanding of the principles of statutory interpretation and legal precedent.
Highly desirable qualifications
- A tertiary undergraduate degree in law or equivalent.
- Post-legal admission experience of 7 years in Victorian workers’ compensation litigation and/or administrative review.
Working with Us
At WorkSafe, we aspire for every employee to feel connected, safe and valued in their team, for teams to feel valued in the workplace, and for WorkSafe to be valued in the community.
We believe that a diverse workforce is the key to delivering the best outcomes for the Victorian community and strongly encourage applications from all people, including First Nations people and people with disability, diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, sexualities and genders.
What’s next?
Applications close 11:00pm Friday 13 November 2026. Click the link to apply, and join us in making a difference to Victorian lives.
Only applications submitted via the WorkSafe Careers website will be considered.
Preferred candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and/or other checks as required for the position as part of the recruitment process.
Eligibility for ongoing employment with WorkSafe Victoria requires Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency.
Due to the volume of applications received, individualised feedback will only be provided to candidates who progress to interview stage.
For further enquiries please contact Bianca Stojanovski via email bianca_stojanovski@worksafe.vic.gov.au
We vet all employer accounts and do our best to keep job ads safe, but scams can still occur. Be cautious when sharing personal information — never provide financial details or make payments during the application process. For extra security, use the Apply button on our site when proceeding.