Independent medical examinations (Directive 10/20)
Summary
This directive made under the Public Service Act 2008 continues to apply unless it is repealed or replaced under the Public Sector Act 2022. It only applies to public sector entities that it applied to prior to 1 March 2023.
This directive affirms the government's commitment to workplace health, safety and wellbeing for all employees by clarifying the practical application of sections 174 and 175 of the Public Service Act 2008 (PS Act), by providing that an employee may seek an internal review and may appeal a decision requiring them to submit to an independent medical examination (IME) where the PS Act conditions have not been met.
This directive has been updated to support the Review of public sector employment laws. The review was commissioned by the government to ensure Queenslanders have the most responsive, consistent and reliable public service possible.
What has changed in this directive?
| What’s new? | Previous directive |
|---|---|
| Employees have the right to request an internal review of an Independent Medical Examination (IME) direction. | Employee could appeal to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission but there was no internal review right. |
| Extends the required notice period for an employee to attend an IME from 14 to 28 days. | A shorter notice period, 14 days, applied for an employee to attend an IME. |
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Independent medical examinations (Directive 10/20) (PDF File, 376.6 KB)
Independent medical examinations (Directive 10/20) (MS Word Document, 269.9 KB)