Statement of intent

About the Seacare Authority

The Seacare Authority is a statutory body that oversees a national scheme of occupational health and safety, rehabilitation and workers’ compensation arrangements that applies to defined seafarers (referred to as the Seacare scheme). It maintains an important role in the continued improvement of injury prevention, rehabilitation and workers’ compensation performance outcomes of seafarers in the Commonwealth jurisdiction.

The Seacare Authority’s functions and responsibilities are governed under the Seafarers, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992 (Seafarer’s Act), the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Levy Act 1992 (Levy Act), the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Levy Collection Act 1992 (Levy Collection Act) and the regulations made under these Acts. It also has a range of functions under the Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993 (OHS(MI) Act).

The Seacare Authority does not have any staff of its own. Comcare provides the secretariat and administrative support and resources to the Seacare Authority, as it reasonably requires, for the proper performance of its functions or exercise of its powers.

The Seacare Authority will exercise its functions and powers in good faith and to the best of its ability in ways that are consistent with the government’s policy priorities.

The government's policy priorities

The Seacare Authority commits to acting in accordance with, and striving for continuous improvement against, the government’s principles of regulator best practice, as set out in the Department of Finance’s Regulator Performance (RMG 128).

The Seacare Authority commits to identifying and pursuing opportunities to contribute to the government’s objectives to achieve safe workplaces, provide seafarers with the highest level of protections to return home safely, and support recovery and return to health and work after injury or illness by:

• providing prompt and accurate advice to the Minister and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (the department) on significant issues that may affect the viability of the Seacare scheme, including on financial risks associated with the Seafarers Safety Net Fund and ability to cover seafarer claim liabilities
• acting in accordance with regulator best practice in its decision-making, policies, processes and communication practices, in order to maximise transparency and minimise compliance costs
• using intelligence and data to inform a risk-based approach to regulatory engagement, including proportional targeting of industries or activities of concern
• actively monitoring its operating environment to ensure regulatory approaches keep pace with changes in technology, industry practices and challenges, case law and community expectations, and
• maintaining transparency in its operations, policies and decision-making processes including by publishing formal regulatory decisions, performance results and updates on emerging issues, including on upcoming reforms.

Relationship with stakeholders

Regarding relationships with stakeholders, the Seacare Authority commits to:

• providing up-to-date, clear and accessible guidance and information to assist employers covered by the Seacare scheme to continuously improve their prevention, rehabilitation and claims management performance outcomes, and working collaboratively with employers to secure compliance with the Seafarer’s Act and OHS(MI) Act
• engaging and consulting genuinely with stakeholders - including Comcare, government, employers and their representatives, and employees and their representatives - to share critical information promptly while remaining receptive to feedback and diverse stakeholder views
• clearly communicating regulatory processes and seeking to increase transparency in decision making processes
• working collaboratively within its tripartite structure to fulfil its statutory functions
• ensuring its actions are consistent with the policies of the government, in accordance with section 21 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act)
• coordinating regulatory activities with other regulatory agencies to avoid duplication, including through sharing information and undertaking joint education activities where possible, and
• working collaboratively with the department on significant issues impacting the scheme, including in relation to work health and safety policy matters for the maritime industry and opportunities to strengthen compliance with the Seafarers Act and OHS(MI) Act.

Organisational matters

Regarding organisational matters, the Seacare Authority will continue to:

• assess risks that may compromise its ability to administer its functions under the Seafarer's Act and the OHS(MI) Act and respond in a proportionate way
• implement appropriate controls to manage the risk of unauthorised disclosure of protected or sensitive information
• uphold, promote and comply with the Australian Public Service Values and Code of Conduct
• comply with the requirements under the PGPA Act and associated instruments and policies to manage the scheme's financial viability and any Commonwealth liability risks particularly in relation to the Seafarers Safety Net Fund, and hold itself to account through internal accountability processes that foster a culture of continuous improvement and reflection.

Communicating plans and performance outcomes

The Seacare Authority’s Corporate Plan will provide further information about its purpose, strategic direction, operating context and performance measures and targets.

The Seacare Authority’s Annual Report will be used to communicate and promote its performance for the year, including the delivery against performance measures to demonstrate our progress towards the continued improvement of prevention, rehabilitation and workers’ compensation performance outcomes for seafarers in the Commonwealth jurisdiction.

The Seacare Authority will promote its Corporate Plan, Annual Report and other important information and guidance to our stakeholders through our website and targeted engagement activities.

Relationship with Minister and portfolio

I acknowledge the role the Seacare Authority has in assisting you, as the responsible Minister, and the government to respond promptly to issues that may arise in relation to the Seacare scheme and will take proactive steps to ensure that employers are compliant with relevant regulations and operate within the law.

I acknowledge the role of the department as having responsibility for administering and providing advice on the Seafarers Act, the Levy Act and the Levy Collection Act and advising on the performance of the portfolio’s regulatory systems. The Seacare Authority will continue to share its expertise and work collaboratively with the department on policy and legislative changes that could affect, or strengthen, seafarer’s health and safety and workers’ compensation arrangements in the Commonwealth jurisdiction. The Seacare Authority appreciates the enabling environment provided by the Minister to consistently implement best practice and keep informed of the government's policy direction, initiatives and strategies being considered.