An independent review into icare has submitted its final report to the state insurer’s board, tabling 76 proposals to strengthen the organisation.

The Independent Review of icare Governance, Accountability and Culture report, prepared by PwC, was released last week and has been provided to retired Supreme Court judge Robert McDougall, who is leading a “root and branch” examination of the insurer.

icare Chairman John Robertson and CEO Richard Harding have welcomed the review’s final report. They say further action will be taken immediately to refocus the organisation on core priorities - caring for injured workers and road users and supporting NSW businesses, homeowners and the NSW Government.

“We welcome the report and have already taken action on many of the issues highlighted [such as] new employee policies, tighter rules and guidelines, more stringent reporting, new avenues to speak up when there is an issue,” Mr Harding said.

“We have already commenced a program of change to address the core outcomes of the report.

“Key to changes currently underway is a new more accountable leadership team to bring in new thinking, reduce complexity, and evolve the organisation.”

The review in its overall findings says icare has made some progress in the ongoing development of governance, accountability and culture, most notably over the past six months following a number of internal changes such as engagement with the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA).

The engagement has “enhanced the relationship” with SIRA, the review says. However, the review says “significant changes” are still required in the worker’ compensation Nominal Insurer scheme and broader organisation.

PwC devoted an entire chapter to third party specialists and the provision of services to the NI. It says the eight recommendations it made for improving the NI scheme are designed to achieve “outcomes-focused” partnerships with scheme agents based on commerciality, transparency and accountability.

PwC says its review of the agreements with scheme agents, including the one-year extension of EML’s contract, highlights a need for further clarity in relation to key services being outsourced and the level to which they are to be delivered

Click here for the final report.