Plan to ease work claims

By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG manufacturers have signed a group agreement with a WorkCover agency to reduce the hassles that are normally attached to the WorkCover claims process.
The Star first revealed in November last year that the South East Melbourne Manufacturers’ Alliance (SEMMA) was planning to reduce manufacturers’ hassles with high turnovers of WorkCover agents and red tape that turned claims into a drawn-out and frustrating process that detracted from daily business.
The strategy involved manufacturers grouping together and hunting for a reputable agency to partner with under a Service Level Agreement that outlined minimum requirements from both manufacturers and the agency.
A group of about 16 manufacturers attended a meeting last week at Dandenong’s Economic Development Unit building in Thomas Street to hear final details on the Service Level Agreement they had recently signed with Cambridge Integrated Services.
Cambridge Integrated Services client relationship manager Danny Brna told manufacturers who had signed that they could expect a high level of customer service but also had to pull their weight with claims paperwork to ensure the partnership worked smoothly.
In June SEMMA executive officer Paul Dowling revealed it was working on a premium cost-reduction project that would enable SEMMA to group-buy premiums and reduce what they were currently paying for WorkCover.
Mr Dowling said the initiative would follow a successful uptake of the Service Level Agreement.