New Zealand to host 2014 IFDM

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) of New Zealand has announced it will host the International Forum on Disability Management in 2014. According to ACC, “This Forum aims to facilitate international discussion and debate around disability management and its role in reducing  employer cost, improving productivity and economic growth, promoting return to work, and eliminating disability barriers.” The ACC will be working with leading New Zealand government agencies, other insurers, business, employee representatives, and health and rehabilitation providers to develop a program for the Forum that will draw from best practice and stimulate debate on change in the way workplace disabilities are managed. Dr. Jan White, Chief Executive of ACC says, “ACC is excited to be hosting the 7th IFDM in 2014 and looks forward to working with key New Zealand partner organisations to deliver a successful and insightful Forum.” For further details, please click on the link to view the announcement. Full story

Update from Australia

This IDMSC Communiqué provides an update regarding several events that have taken place in Australia: the Personal Injury Education Foundation (PIEF) signed a license agreement to offer the curriculum and grant the professional certification examinations for Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and Certified Return to Work Coordinator (CRTWC) for Australia;  the Victorian WorkCover Authority in Melbourne signed an agreement for the Consensus Based Disability Management Audit (CBDMA) and the Workplace Disability Management Assessment (WDMA) tools after a period of evaluation and pilot testing; and the Children’s Hospital, Westmead becomes IDMSC Certified. To read the update, please click on the link: Full story

International Association of Professionals in DM launches global newsletter

The International Association of Professionals in Disability Management (IAPDM) launched a new globally focused publication called DM Dialogue. The Editorial Advisory Board is made up of senior representatives from countries currently having individuals with the professional designations: Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and Certified Return to Work Coordinator (CRTWC). The goals of the publication include engaging professionals in contributing to a meaningful, motivational and engaging international platform for sharing research, ideas, challenges, successes, case studies, and profiles; raise the profile of the CDMP and CRTWC designations in the 13 countries now licensed to deliver the curriculum and grant the professional designations; and to further expand awareness of leading edge consensus based disability management and related best practices. This first newsletter is available here: Full story

New Zealand’s ACC becomes IDMSC Certified

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) of New Zealand was the first in the country to become IDMSC Certified. The ACC, along with five of the country’s largest employers took part in a pilot of the Consensus Based Disability Management Audit (CBDMA) tool. To achieve the IDMSC Certified designation requires a score of 80 percent or more on the CBDMA.  Full story

Number of Certified DM Professionals Expands Internationally

In 2007, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom participated for the first time in offering the professional certification examinations and many indiviudals joined the ranks having achieved the professional designation of Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP). This was of course in addition to the examinations being offered in Canada and Germany.  Full story