Councillor – Specialist Medical Review Council

• Location: Adelaide, SA; Brisbane, QLD; Canberra, ACT; Hobart, TAS; Melbourne, VIC; Sydney, NSW; Perth, WA; Darwin, NT
• Salary: Determined by the Remuneration Tribunal

JOB OVERVIEW
The Specialist Medical Review Council (SMRC) is conducting a review into Signal to Noise Induced Hearing Loss.

To conduct this review, the SMRC requires the appointment of 2 councillors – an otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon) and a medical scientist specialising in audiology, who wish to apply their knowledge and contribute to a quality compensation system for veterans. 

The successful candidates will be appointed as part-time Councillors to the Specialist Medical Review Council by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. Appointments are made for a period of up to four years (eligible for reappointment). 

If successful, you will form a Review Council of 3 to 5 Councillors selected by the Convener for participation in the Signal to Noise Induced Hearing Loss Review. A Review Council is responsible for evaluating the sound medical-scientific evidence made available to the Review Council.

The SMRC is seeking to appoint the following Councillors:

• Medical practitioner or medical scientist specialising in Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery)
• medical scientist specialising in Audiology

The Specialist Medical Review Council (SMRC) is an independent statutory body under the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio responsible to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. 

The role of the SMRC is to review decisions of the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA) in relation to Statements of Principles. Statements of Principles are legislative instruments determined by the RMA which set out the causal factors for a medical condition which must exist for a connection to be established between Australian Defence Force service and the condition. These instruments are applied in determining liability for a medical condition. 

The membership of the SMRC reflects the legislative intention to have contested decisions of the RMA reviewed by Medical Specialists or Medical Scientists who are experts in the injury or disease under review. The Review Council also considers the application, any submissions and the contents of the Statements of Principles under review. The SMRC does not determine individual claims for veterans’ and military compensation entitlements.

DUTIES
As an SMRC Councillor you will be required to:

• Develop and maintain effective relationships with the Convener, Review Councillors and Secretariat.
• Attend approximately 4 pre-arranged virtual meetings to conduct the review according to your availability.
• Attend a single Review Council face-to-face meeting with the applicant.
• Work on a panel with other Review Councillors and Convener/Presiding Councillor.
• Analyse, review and evaluate available sound medical-scientific evidence and the legislation (including the Statement of Principles) relevant to the review.
• Evaluate the application, any submissions, and the contents of the Statements of Principles under review.

ELIGIBILITY 

NOTES
 
For more information about the role, please see the Candidate Information Pack.

A merit pool of suitable applicants may be created which may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.

DVA embraces and fosters a culture that supports diversity, inclusion and respect, where people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We welcome people with diverse skills, experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. We are dedicated and committed to attracting and recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and encourage applications from people with disability, people that identify as LGBTQIA+ and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Take on a rewarding, varied, and broad career with an Australian Public Service Department that can bring balance and flexibility to your working life, while supporting you to stay connected to your community.

DVA is committed to improving the data skills and capability of our workforce to underpin our goal of becoming a leading data-driven organisation.
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CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACKThe candidate information pack is available below.
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