About Us

Medical Panels provides expert and binding medical opinions in workers' compensation and personal injury cases.

What we do

Medical Panels provide expert panels of specialist doctors who come together to resolve medical questions if there is disagreement or uncertainty under the workers' compensation and personal injury legislation.

Each Medical Panel is independent and functions as a tribunal that provides final and legally binding answers to referred questions.

Our history

Medical Panels have been part of the dispute resolution process in Victoria since the early 1990s. During this time Medical Panels has served the valuable purpose of providing fair and cost-effective resolution of medical disputes.

The Acting Director of Medical Panels is Ms Sharon Lewis.

Our purpose statement

Providing impartial, evidence-informed medical opinions for all Victorians. Our knowledge, care and expertise help injured workers and claimants get on with their lives.

Panel members

There are 196 Panel members. From the List, the Convenor and Deputy Convenor/s are also appointed.

The Convenor and Deputy Convenors

The Convenor, Associate Professor Peter Gibbons and Deputy Convenors, Associate Professor David Ernest, Dr Sandra Hacker AO and Dr Judith Hammond, are appointed until 31 December 2025. They are all Panel Members as well.

The Convenor is responsible for:

  • convening an appropriate Medical Panel once a valid referral is received
  • providing the Medical Panel with referral documents
  • recommending appropriate medical practitioners to the Minister for appointment to the list of Panel Members
  • providing advice to the Minister in relation to matters relating to the Medical Panels

Key data 2022/23FY

Operating budget: $20M (approximately)
Total referrals: 4,186
Appointments: 4,504 (approximately)
Number of matters convened: 3,882
Finalised Opinions and Reasons documents: 3,736

Our environment

Medical Panels operates from dedicated premises that include fully equipped medical consulting suites and the administration office.

More information

Convenor’s Directions – Medical Panel appointments
PDF 197.14 KB
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Convenor's Directions - WorkCover
PDF 310.5 KB
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Convenor's Directions - Wrongs Act
PDF 454.15 KB
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Conflict of interest policy
PDF 480.15 KB
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Feedback/complaints
PDF 115.13 KB
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Freedom of Information Act statement
PDF 216.63 KB
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Current Panel Members

  • Dr Steven Adlard, Psychiatry
  • Dr Rose Acher, Rehabilitation medicine
  • Dr Jennifer Alexander, General Practice
  • Dr Jane Anderson, Anaesthesia
  • Dr Alan Andrews, General Practice
  • Associate Prof Carolyn Arnold, Physician (Rehabilitation Medicine)
  • Dr Rani Axtens, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Andrew Beischer, Surgery (Orthopaedic surgery)
  • Dr Andrea Bendrups, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Anita Boecksteiner, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Catherine Bones, Occupational and environmental medicine
  • Associate Prof Caroline Brand, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Prof Robert Briggs, Surgery (Otolaryngology)
  • Prof Anne Buist, Psychiatry
  • Dr Matthew Campbell, Surgery (Otolaryngology)
  • Associate Prof Susan Carden, Ophthalmology
  • Dr Roynon Carey, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Ian Carlisle, Surgery (Plastic Surgery)
  • Associate Prof George Chalkiadis, Physician (Pain Management)
  • Associate Prof Paul Champion de Crespigny, Physician (Nephrology)
  • Dr Patrick Chan, Surgery (Neurosurgery)
  • Dr Daniela Chan, Physician (Endocrinology and Geriatic medicine)
  • Dr Robert Chazan, Psychiatry (Child Psychiatry)
  • Dr Yvonne Chow, Surgery (Plastic surgery)
  • Dr Zarrar Chowdary, Psychiatry
  • Dr John Churchill, Surgery (Orthopaedic surgery)
  • Dr Sabina Ciciriello, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Juliet Clayton, Surgery (Neurosurgery)
  • Dr Tanya Clifton, Psychiatry
  • Dr John Colman, Physician (Gastroenterology and Hepatology)
  • Associate Prof Deborah Colville, Ophthalmology
  • Dr Laura Cooney, Psychiatry
  • Associate Prof Vincent Cousins, Surgery (Otolaryngology)
  • Dr John Cronin, Psychiatry
  • Associate Prof Gary Crosthwaite, Surgery (General Surgery)
  • Dr Roderick Cunningham, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Eli Dabscheck, Physician (Respiratory and Sleep Medicine)
  • Prof Gavin Davis, Surgery (Neurosurgery)
  • Dr Palmyra De Banks, General Practice
  • Dr David de la Harpe, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Prof Justin Denholm, Physician (Infectious diseases)
  • Associate Prof Anouk Dev, Physician (Gastroenterology and hepatology)
  • Dr Dhayanthi Devasagayam, Psychiatry
  • Prof Peter Disler, Physician (Rehabilitation Medicine)
  • Dr Peter Dohrmann, Surgery (Neurosurgery)
  • Dr Stephen Doig, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Craig Donohue, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Jennifer Downes-Brydon, General Practice
  • Dr Armin Drnda, Surgery (Neurosurgery)
  • Dr Anthony Dunin, Surgery (Orthopaedic surgery)
  • Dr Renu Eapen, Surgery (Urology)
  • Dr Odette Edelstein, Psychiatry
  • Dr William Edwards, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Charlotte Elder, Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Dr Keith Elsner, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Michael Epstein, Psychiatry
  • Associate Prof David Ernest, Physician (General Medicine)
  • Dr Cecilia Etulain, Psychiatry
  • Dr Mark Faragher, Physician (Neurology)
  • Dr Marie Feletar, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Jennifer Flynn, Surgery (Orthopaedic surgery)
  • Dr Julian Freidin, Psychiatry
  • Dr Rekha Ganeshalingam, Surgery (Orthopaedic surgery)
  • Dr Peter Gard, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Margaret Garde, General Practice
  • Dr Karen Gaunson, Psychiatry (Child Psychiatry)
  • Dr Juliette Gentle, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Associate Prof Peter Gibbons, Physician (Musculoskeletal Medicine)
  • Dr Margaret Gibson, Physician (Occupational & Environmental Medicine)
  • Dr Remy Glowinski, Psychiatry
  • Associate Prof Miron Goldwasser, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Garry Grossbard, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Emma Guymer, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Peter Habersberger, Physician (Cardiology)
  • Dr Sandra Hacker AO, Psychiatry
  • Associate Prof Peter Hamblin, Physician (Endocrinology)
  • Dr Judith Hammond, General Practice
  • Dr Dennis Handrinos, Psychiatry
  • Dr Barbara Hannon, Rehabilitation medicine
  • Associate Prof Andrew Hardidge, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Associate Prof Laurence Harewood, Surgery (Urology)
  • Dr Samantha Hargreaves, Obstetrics and gynaecology
  • Dr Jennifer Harmer, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr John Harris, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Jonathan Harrison, Physician (Gastroenterology and Hepatology)
  • Dr Michael Hayman, Physician (Neurology - Paediatric)
  • Dr Brendan Hayman, Psychiatry
  • Dr Alexander Holmes, Psychiatry
  • Dr Susanne Homolka, Physician (Occupational & Environmental Medicine)
  • Dr Jeremy Horton, Physician (Dermatology)
  • Dr Robert Howells, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Ryan Hoy, Physician (Respiratory and Sleep Medicine)
  • Dr Robin Hunter, Physician (Rehabilitation Medicine)
  • Associate Prof David Hunter-Smith, Surgery (Plastic Surgery)
  • Dr Andrew Jakobovits, Physician (Gastroenterology and Hepatology)
  • Dr Kym Jansen, Obstetrics and gynaecology
  • Dr Peter Jasek, General Practice
  • Dr Samari Jayarajah, Psychiatry
  • Dr Steven Jensen, Physician (Musculoskeletal Medicine)
  • Dr Sachin Jindal, Psychiatry
  • Dr Rondir Jithoo, Surgery (Neurosurgery)
  • Dr Jennifer Johns AM, Physician (Cardiology)
  • Dr Ian Jones, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Celina Kaiser, Surgery (Vascular surgery)
  • Dr Kevin Kane, Surgery (Otolaryngology)
  • Dr Roy Karna, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Bhadrakant Kavar, Surgery (Neurosurgery)
  • Associate Prof Abdul Khalid, Psychiatry
  • Prof John King, Physician (Neurology)
  • Dr John G King, (Psychiatry)
  • Associate Prof Paul King, Physician (Respiratory and Sleep Medicine)
  • Dr Dianne Kirby, Psychiatry
  • Dr Diana Korevaar, Psychiatry
  • Dr Anna Korin, Physician (Emergency Medicine)
  • Dr Eli Kotler, Psychiatry
  • Dr Christine Kotsios, Psychiatry
  • Dr David Kotzman, Physician (Occupational & Environmental Medicine)
  • Assoc Prof John Laidlaw, Surgery (Neurosurgery)
  • Dr Jacqueline Laing, General Practice
  • Dr Christine Le, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Associate Prof Jeffery Lefkovits, Physician (Cardiology)
  • Associate Prof Michael Leung AM, Surgery (Plastic Surgery)
  • Dr Daniel Lewis, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Lyn-li Lim, Physician (Infectious diseases)
  • Dr Lyn-May Lim, Psychiatry
  • Prof Geoffrey Littlejohn, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Madalena Liu, Surgery (Urology)
  • Dr Virginia Loftus, Psychiatry (Child Psychiatry)
  • Dr David Love, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Associate Prof Peter Lowthian, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Associate Prof Bernard Lyons, Surgery (Otolaryngology)
  • Dr Kirstie MacGill, Surgery (Plastic Surgery)
  • Clinical Assoc Prof Heather Mack, Surgery (Ophthalmology)
  • Dr Sara MacKenzie, Emergency medicine
  • Dr Phoebe-Anne Mainland, Anaesthesia
  • Dr John Malios, General Practice
  • Dr Emmanuel Manolas, Physician (Cardiology)
  • Dr Katherine Martin, Surgery (General surgery)
  • Dr Peter McCombe, Surgery (Orthopaedic surgery)
  • Associate Prof Paul McCrory, Physician (Neurology)
  • Dr Keith McCullough, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Iain McLean, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Roderick McRae, Physician (General Medicine)
  • Dr Sara Mgaieth, Physician (General Medicine, Gastroenterology & Hepatology)
  • Dr Maree Micallef, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Sallyann Middleton, General Practice
  • Dr Robert Millar, Surgery (General Surgery)
  • Dr Peter Millington, Psychiatry
  • Dr Craig Mills, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Prof Wayne Morrison, Surgery (Plastic surgery)
  • Dr Ann Mullins, General Practice
  • Dr Maninder Mundae, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr David Murphy, Physician (Rehabilitation Medicine)
  • Associate Prof Michael Murphy, Surgery (Neurosurgery)
  • Dr Jacquelyn Nash, Pain medicine
  • Dr Ilana Nayman, Psychiatry
  • Associate Prof Rosemary Nixon AM, Dermatology; Occupational & environmental medicine
  • Prof Richard O'Brien, Physician (Endocrinology)
  • Dr Christine Olesch, Rehabilitation medicine; Paediatrics and child health
  • Dr Olivia Ong, Rehabilitation medicine
  • Dr Jack Owczarek, General Practice
  • Dr Mark Patrick, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Travis Perera, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Yi-Lee Phang, General Practice and Occupational & environmental medicine
  • Dr Robert Pianta, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Prof Marinis Pirpiris, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Majid Rahgozar, Physician (Occupational & Environmental Medicine)
  • Dr Sharmila Ramessur Chandran, Physician (Nephrology)
  • Dr Helen Rhode, General Practice
  • Associate Prof Martin Richardson, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Sophia Richardson, Surgery (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)
  • Dr Susan Robertson, Physician (Dermatology)
  • Dr Joseph Robin, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Myron Rogers, Surgery (Neurosurgery)
  • Dr Marie Rostek, Surgery (Plastic Surgery)
  • Clinical Prof Leanne Rowe AM, General Practice
  • Associate Prof Abraham Rubinfeld, Physician (Respiratory and Sleep Medicine)
  • Dr Noel Russell, Surgery (Otolaryngology)
  • Dr Sudeep Saraf, Psychiatry
  • Prof Max Schwarz AM, Physician (Medical Oncology)
  • Dr Susan Shedda, Surgery (General Surgery)
  • Dr Anthony Sheehan, Psychiatry
  • Dr Robert Shields, Psychiatry
  • Prof Malcolm Sim, Physician (Occupational & Environmental Medicine)
  • Dr Carolyn Simms, Psychiatry
  • Dr Kevin Siu, Surgery (Neurosurgery)
  • Prof Andrew Sizeland, Surgery (Otolaryngology)
  • Dr John Skelley, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Associate Prof Raymond Snyder, Physician (Medical Oncology)
  • Mr Gary Speck AM, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Catherine Stark, Physician (Neurology)
  • Associate Prof Richard Stark, Physician (Neurology)
  • Dr Richard Stawell, Surgery (Ophthalmology)
  • Prof Cassandra Szoeke, Physician (Neurology)
  • Dr Gregory Taggart, Physician (Gastroenterology and Hepatology)
  • Dr Matthew Tagkalidis, Psychiatry
  • Dr Ashish Takyar, Psychiatry
  • Dr Sven Jean Tan, Physician (Nephrology)
  • Dr Hana Thompson, General Practice
  • Dr Richard Travers, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Maria Triglia, Psychiatry
  • Dr (Jennifer) Jane Trinca, Physician (Pain Management)
  • Dr Stephen Trumble, General Practice
  • Associate Prof Valery Usatoff, Surgery (General Surgery)
  • Associate Prof Sharon Van Doornum, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Anita Vinton, Physician (Neurology)
  • Dr Laurie Warfe, General Practice
  • Dr Roger Westh, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Peter Wilde, Surgery (Orthopaedic Surgery)
  • Dr Nicholas Wilsmore, Physician (Respiratory and Sleep Medicine)
  • Dr Frances Wise, Physician (Rehabilitation Medicine)
  • Prof Anita Wluka, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Olivia Wong, Psychiatry
  • Dr Mary Wong, General Practice
  • Dr Melinda Wong, Physician (Rheumatology)
  • Dr Dominic Yong, Physician (Occupational & Environmental Medicine)
  • Dr Sotiria (Ria) Zergiotis, Psychiatry
  • Dr Celia Zubrinich, Physician (Immunology and Allergy)

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