An approved permanent impairment assessor (APIA) plays an important role in the Western Australian workers compensation scheme. An APIA assesses an injured worker’s degree of permanent whole of person impairment (PWPI) caused by workplace injuries. These assessments determine access to certain workers compensation entitlements by injured workers.
WorkCover WA may approve a person as an APIA if the person is a registered medical practitioner who WorkCover WA considers to be sufficiently trained in the use of WorkCover WA Guidelines and satisfies WorkCover WA’s eligibility criteria.
How to become an approved permanent impairment assessorSee below to find out how to become designated as an approved permanent impairment assessor (APIA) operating within the Western Australian workers compensation and injury management scheme or to see if there are any upcoming dates scheduled for training in the use of the WorkCover WA Guidelines.
The upcoming WorkCover WA Guidelines training will take place on 24 October 2024. To register for the session, please access the WorkCover WA Eventbrite page.
Go to How to become an approved permanent impairment assessor.
Register of approved permanent impairment assessors (WorkCover WA Online)
An up-to-date register of WorkCover WA approved permanent impairment assessors (APIA).
Form APIA1: Permanent Impairment Assessment – report and certificate
This form is used by the APIA to produce a report certifying a worker’s degree of permanent impairment. The approved permanent impairment assessor is to forward this report to the worker, the employer and the employers insurer.
Form APIA2: Permanent Impairment Assessment – request
This form is used by worker, insurer, or self-insurer to request assessment of workers degree of permanent impairment.
Form APIA3: Permanent Impairment Assessment – requirement to attend
This form indicates a requirement to attend an impairment assessment.
Form APIA4: Permanent Impairment Assessment – provision of information
This form is used when an approved permanent impairment assessor requires a worker, employer or employer’s insurer to produce relevant documents and information to assist in the impairment assessment. The worker, employer or employer’s insurer must provide relevant documents or information to the approved permanent impairment assessor.
Form APIA5: Permanent Impairment Assessment – consent to provision of information
This form is used by an approved permanent impairment assessor when they require consent from the worker, employer or employer’s insurer, for another party to provide relevant documents or information required for the impairment assessment.
Form APIA6: Permanent Impairment Assessment – condition not stabilised notice
The approved permanent impairment assessor uses this form when the worker has been assessed, but their injury has not stabilised to the extent required by the Act and the WorkCover WA Guides for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. The approved permanent impairment assessor is to forward this report to the worker, the employer and the employers insurer.
Form APIA7: Permanent Impairment Assessment – Psychiatric impairment rating form
The approved permeant impairment assessor uses this form when the impairment assessment involves a psychiatric injury.
Form Permanent Impairment Notice
This form is used by the worker and employer to indicate whether or not the employer agrees with the assessed degree of permanent impairment.
Form Permanent Impairment – further assessment
This form is used by the employer to request a further assessment if the employer does not agree with the assessed degree of permanent impairment. the cost of further assessment to be paid by the employer.
WorkCover WA Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment – 1 July 2024
This guide is used by Approved Permanent Impairment Assessors when evaluating the degree of an injured worker’s permanent impairment.
WorkCover WA Guidance Notes for Approved Permanent Impairment Assessors – procedures for the permanent impairment assessment process – Coming soon
Outlines the methodology, process and terminology of the impairment assessment process.
