NSW Sporting Injuries Committee

About Us

The NSW Sporting Injuries Committee is a statutory organization established in 1978 by the New South Wales Government to provide cost effective insurance and to promote safe sport practices. The NSW Sporting Injuries Committee and its operations are unique to the state of New South Wales.

Function

Constitution

Membership

The current members are:

	Mr. Jon Blackwell Jon Blackwell commenced as Chief Executive Officer of WorkCover NSW in August 2003 and by virtue of this position under the Act, is the Chairman of the NSW Sporting Injuries Committee. He is responsible for the operation of the workplace safety, injury management, recovery and return to work, and workers compensation systems in NSW. Jon was Chief Executive Officer of the Central Coast Area Health Service from 1997 to 2003. Before that he held a variety of executive positions at health services in Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and in NSW. Jon obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Social Administration and Masters in Social Work at the University of Nottingham. He commenced his career with five years service in the British Army.
	Mr. Murray McLachlan Murray McLachlan is the Director, Office of the Chief Executive in WorkCover NSW. He became the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee by Ministerial appointment in April 2007. He joined WorkCover in 1992. He is responsible for the management of executive support and secretariat services to the CEO, WorkCover Executive, WorkCover Board, Workers Compensation and Workplace OHS Council, and various committees, as well as corporate-wide programs including WorkCover’s customer service improvement projects and its project management approach. Before joining WorkCover NSW Murray worked in the Department of Education as a teacher, teacher-librarian, accredited OHS trainer, and executive officer to senior management. Murray represents WorkCover as Chair of the Central Coast Regional Coordination Management Group. He has extensive experience in leading a number of community organisations.
	Mr. Peter Corcoran Peter was appointed to the Committee in August 2006. He is the National Education and Training Manager / Consultant for the Australian Rugby League Development and comes to the Committee with over 30 years experience in the sporting industry and, in particular, Rugby League. Peter’s interest in safety in sport is well known and documented. He is a long-time member of both Sports Medicine Australia and Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Peter is a Director of the Newcastle Knights Rugby League Football Club, a Director of both NSW Sports Federation and YouthSafe / SpineSafe Ltd, Chair of NSW Sport & Recreation Industry Standing Committee, Chair for the NSW Sports Federation Association of Disability Sports and a Member of the Hunter Academy of Sport Program Committee.
	Dr. John Orchard Dr John Orchard was appointed to the Committee in June 2000. He is an experienced researcher in the field of sports science and medicine and winner of the prestigious F.E. Johnson Memorial Fellowship in 1999 for his research into ground conditions and injury in the Australian Football League. John is the team physician for the Sydney Roosters and former team physician to the NSW State of Origin team and Sydney Swans. He undertakes injury surveillance on a consultant basis for the AFL and Cricket Australia. He has published over 100 sports medicine articles in international journals.
	Mr. Grant Parker Mr Grant Parker was appointed to the Committee in July 2007. Grant is the Executive Officer of the Secondary Sports Division at the NSW School Sports Unit. He has extensive experience in the administration of school sports at state and national levels through his key role as Executive Officer of the NSW Combined High Schools (CHS) Sports Association, a role he has held since 1988. Grant has been a member of a number of committees over the years, including the Public School Sports Council, The Talented Child in Sport Committee, the Centenary of School Sport Committee, the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education K-6 Committee and in 1992 co-ordinated the integration of the non-government school sporting associations into the NSW Combined High School program, which now forms the NSW All Schools sporting Program. As well as his general knowledge of sport and how it is administered within the public school system, Grant is involved in sport at a community level being an accredited rugby referee and junior sailing coach. He is also a keen water polo and skiing participant.
	Dr. Eddie Price Dr Eddie Price was appointed to the Committee in October 2003. Eddie brings to the Committee considerable experience as a physician working in the field of workers compensation and rehabilitation, and as a consultant to industry and the former Federal Minister for Health, Senator Graham Richardson. Eddie was on the Board of WorkCover for seven years. He has just completed writing his third book on changing the health system, advocating for a renewed focus based on a measurable health related quality of life. Eddie has had a career interest in preventive medicine, working in health administrative advocacy with a particular interest in utilising health outcomes to promote a preventive focussed health care system. For the past twenty five years Eddie has worked in private practice and as a consultant to corporations and the insurance industry in occupational health and health management, with an emphasis on preventive health care.
	Ms. Amy Winters Amy Winters was appointed to the Committee in September 2005. She works with the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) as the organisation’s Sponsorship Account Manager. Amy has previously worked with Paralympic athletes and their coaches to improve the profile, awareness and pathways for athletes with a disability. Prior to joining the APC, Amy developed her experience in strategic management and understanding the needs of sports people with a disability at the NSW Sports Council for the Disabled. In addition, Amy is an accomplished Paralympian regarded as one of Australia’s best female track athletes. Since 1994, she has claimed 13 medals, including eight gold medals, at various Paralympic Games and World Championships.
	Mr. Darryl Clout Darryl Clout was appointed to the Committee in May 2008. Darryl has spent more than 20 years working in an advisory capacity to State Government Ministers – mainly Chief of Staff, Media Advisor or Senior Advisor in various portfolios including Transport, Education, Police and Sport & Recreation. Darryl was appointed to his current position of General Manager, NSW Sports & Recreation in 2005 and is responsible for the sport and recreation centres and various trusts as well as the grants programs the agency provides in areas of facility and program development. He is the Departmental representative on a number of Boards and Committees including the State Sports Centre Trust and the NSW Sport and Recreation Advisory Council. Darryl has also been involved in community sport particularly softball for more than 20 years and has been a Softball Australia Board Member since 1996 and is currently serving as Vice President.