NIISQ Scheme Insights: Jul-Sep 2023

Overview

This quarter, we continued to leverage co-design principles to make a difference to the lives of scheme participants.

If you have any questions about this information, please contact niisqcommunications@niis.qld.gov.au.

The data contained below reflects NIISQ participants who were injured in motor vehicle accidents. For more information on how we assist people injured in work-related accidents, view our page on Work related accidents.

Highlights

Between July to September 2023, we:

• held our inaugural participant reference group meeting which yielded valuable insights to assist in the co-design of NIISQ projects and services
• finalised the NIISQ Participant Engagement Framework to ensure NIISQ participants are at the centre of what we do and why we do it
• concluded our consultation period for the Treatment, care and support guidelines project, with valuable feedback now being collated and implemented
• funded the Strength2Strength program program to help participants and families adapt to changes that may follow a traumatic personal injury
• delivered a significant uplift to our digital platform to facilitate the rollout of ‘MyPlan’.

On the horizon

Between October and December 2023, we will:

• conduct a pilot initiative called ‘MyNIISQ’ to test digital transformation ideas with participants to ensure they will deliver value and address pain points
• trial a new ‘Goal assistant tool’ for setting goals that are meaningful to participants
• implement ‘MyPlan’, the most significant change to support-planning processes since the NIISQ Agency’s inception
• enhance specific service provider assessment tools that facilitate the assessment of care needs
• deliver ‘Innovation Week’ within the organisation to facilitate creative thinking and development of innovative ideas to enhance our service delivery
• conduct annual trauma-informed practice training to enable staff to employ a trauma-informed perspective when interacting with stakeholders and to safeguard their wellbeing
• delivered targeted stakeholder engagement with visits to the Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Trauma 2023 Conference, Value-Based Health Care Congress 2023 and the Statewide Brain and Spinal Cord Injury (BaSCI) project showcase.

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Explore our graphs below to learn more about NIISQ’s current participant cohort.

Tip: When viewing this report on a smaller screen, click the labels on our graphs to view them at a larger size.

Participants

Applications received

When the NIISQ Agency receives an application, we review the application for eligibility. In quarter 3 2023, we received 33 applications, accepted 16 (on an interim basis), did not accept 10, and have 8 applications pending decision (7 in quarter 3, 2023 and 1 in quarter 1, 2023).

Exited participants

People with eligible injuries enter the scheme as interim participants for up to two years and receive treatment, care and support funded by NIISQ to support their rehabilitation. During this period, the NIISQ Agency is required to review the participant’s eligibility to remain in the scheme on a lifetime basis or to exit the scheme for various reasons.

Lifetime exited participants

For some participants, the treatment, care and support they have received has been effective in supporting a recovery that means they no longer meet the threshold for a serious personal injury that requires lifetime funding. After their lifetime eligibility assessment, 110 participants have exited the scheme as a result of the treatment, care and support funded by NIISQ.

Lump sum exited participants

Participants who are eligible for lifetime funding might be eligible for a compulsory third party (CTP) insurance claim in addition to NIISQ as part of their claim against the at-fault party. By taking a lump sum from both the CTP insurer and NIISQ, 30 participants have exited the scheme.

Lump sum eligibility

Participants with a CTP insurance claim who are eligible to take a lump sum (contributory negligence of less than 50% for the circumstances of the accident) opted in the following way at conference:

• 37 participants have settled their CTP insurance claim.
• Of those 37 participants, 30 took a lump sum from both the insurer and NIISQ.
• 7 participants opted to take the insurer lump sum but decided to stay in NIISQ.

37

have settled their CTP claim

Active participants

In terms of the current (active) participants in NIISQ, the number of lifetime participants continued to increase as expected.

Injury type

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to be the main injury type for the NIISQ participant cohort, regardless of location or demographic differences.

Participant role in motor vehicle accident

The scheme supports a range of participants who were injured in various circumstances on Queensland roads.

Participant age and gender

Young males aged 16-30 continue to be the major cohort for NIISQ participation.

Participant age and injury type

When assessing the data, it is also worth noting that the cohort of participants with traumatic brain injury is relatively younger in comparison to other injury types, such as spinal cord injury.

Geographical profile

While the majority of participants reside in the Greater Brisbane area, North Queensland is the next highest area by geographical profile.

Payments for treatment, care and support

Payments by service type

More than 50% of service payments made on behalf of participants are for attendant, care and support, which reflects the care and respite that is necessary for people with serious personal injuries.

Legal services and claims

Participant with CTP insurance claims

NIISQ is a no-fault scheme, which means people seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents may be eligible for treatment, care and support regardless of whether they were the cause of the accident or not. For those participants who were not at fault, they may be eligible for a CTP insurance claim in addition to NIISQ as part of their claim against the at-fault party.