EML has opened an office in the thriving North Sydney business precinct of Chatswood as it grows its NSW workers’ compensation team.

The group, which is now state insurer icare’s sole workers’ compensation scheme agent for new claims, says the premises will eventually be home to 150 additional staff.

It says the new site “gives our teams flexibility, space and the facilities to provide this vital service”. The office was officially opened last week with icare CEO John Nagle.

“This increase in staff numbers and the expansion into a new office is a great sign of commitment to the scheme,” Mr Nagle said.

EML has also announced it will fund leading post-traumatic stress disorder treatments.

It has funded a psychologist training and consultation program to enhance access to prolonged exposure therapy for first responders and other injured workers.

Prolonged exposure therapy tackles repetitive traumatic memories by taking the patient back to the event and “processing the relived experience”.

The Chatswood office is EML’s sixth in NSW and one of more than a dozen nationwide, as the Australian-owned mutual expands operations in urban and regional centres.

In 2017 icare selected EML as its sole workers’ compensation agent for new claims, starting this year. CGU and QBE ceased services in 2017, while GIO and Allianz continued as transition agents.

At the end of last year EML was criticised in the Workers’ Compensation Independent Review Office annual report as complaints spiralled. Issues included problems communicating with EML, lack of staffing and having to deal with a number of different people.

The NSW Business Chamber also called for an urgent review of the workers’ compensation system due to complaints about poor practices.