About us
The Commonwealth Comcare scheme licensing arrangements under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (SRC) Act 1988 commenced from 30 June 1992. For many years there was a small number of licensees who were either current or former Commonwealth Authorities.
Australia Post and Telstra are the only two original licensees present at the commencement of licensing who continue to be licensees today.
During the period 2005 to 2009, 17 new organisations, who were either former Commonwealth Authorities or in competition with a Commonwealth Authority, were granted licenses to operate under the Comcare scheme. Moving to the Comcare scheme allowed these national companies to self-insure their workers’ compensation and rehabilitation obligations and manage their work health and safety requirements under legislative provisions applying across all states and territories.
Australia Post and Telstra are the only two original licensees present at the commencement of licensing who continue to be licensees today.
During the period 2005 to 2009, 17 new organisations, who were either former Commonwealth Authorities or in competition with a Commonwealth Authority, were granted licenses to operate under the Comcare scheme. Moving to the Comcare scheme allowed these national companies to self-insure their workers’ compensation and rehabilitation obligations and manage their work health and safety requirements under legislative provisions applying across all states and territories.
As the number of licensees increased it became apparent that in order to more effectively develop capability and influence the direction of the jurisdiction, licensees would need a more co-ordinated approach. Informal meetings had been occurring to share information and discuss issues, and in 2009 action commenced to formalise a licensee representative structure.
Initially, consideration was given to a third party organisation managing this function however, licensees decided to establish an independent incorporated association run by licensees themselves.
A series of meetings were held to name and establish the association of licensees.
Initially, consideration was given to a third party organisation managing this function however, licensees decided to establish an independent incorporated association run by licensees themselves.
A series of meetings were held to name and establish the association of licensees.
On 9 November 2009 the first formal meeting of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Licensees Association (SRCLA) was conducted and the following initial office bearers were appointed: Dean Stone (NAB) President; Michael Halloran (Australia Post) Vice President, Denise Fishlock (Asciano) Secretary; and Tamar Kiely (CBA) Treasurer.
Since 2009 the SRCLA has been active in representing licensees in the Comcare scheme and influencing the legislative and regulatory direction. Today the SRCLA is the peak licensee representative body within the Comcare jurisdiction and the employees of member organisations account for more than 50% of the total scheme employees.
The SRCLA is affiliated with the state self-insurance associations and is a member of the National Council of Self-Insurers.
Since 2009 the SRCLA has been active in representing licensees in the Comcare scheme and influencing the legislative and regulatory direction. Today the SRCLA is the peak licensee representative body within the Comcare jurisdiction and the employees of member organisations account for more than 50% of the total scheme employees.
The SRCLA is affiliated with the state self-insurance associations and is a member of the National Council of Self-Insurers.
Further Information
Executive Committee
Cassandra Jenkins
President
Cassandra was first elected to the SRCLA Executive Committee in December 2015. She is also the Deputy Licensee Representative on the SRC Commission. Cassandra is highly experienced in managing Comcare self insurance and state based workers compensation programs.
Vimalini Sathiyanathan
Vice President
Vim is the Manager of Workers Compensation at NAB and is responsible for leading a team of in-house consultants who facilitate the claims management of employees across Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts/Laws, is an Australian legal practitioner, and has 8+ years in Cth compensation schemes.
Nick Burrows
Treasurer
Nick is the workers compensation principal at Pacific National, Australia’s largest private freight operator. Nick oversees workers compensation portfolios and key relationships. With 8 years in the field and a background in exercise physiology, he was elected SRCLA Treasurer in 2024.
Lou Hudson
SRCC Licensee Representative
Lou was elected by licensees to the SRCC in 2017. With nearly 20 years in insurance litigation—both in private practice and at WorkSafe Victoria—she later spent over a decade in national and global executive HSWE roles with licensee organisations. She has served as non-executive director on government and NFP boards.
Beti Dafovski
Secretary
Beti is General Manager of Comcare, Welfare, and Corporate Social Responsibility at Wilson Security, a top security provider with over 7,000 employees. With 30+ years in Federal and State workers compensation, Beti has held executive roles across logistics, manufacturing, and public order sectors. She joined the SRCLA Executive in 2018.
Melanie Ianssen
Executive Committee Member
Melanie is Head of Rehabilitation at Australia Post and is responsible for leading a team of in-house workplace rehabilitation providers who provide occupational rehabilitation services to a 35,000 strong workforce nationally. She has 25 years’ experience working across insurance, psychology, occupational rehabilitation and risk management.
Julian Hodder
Executive Committee Member
Julian is the General Manager of Injury Management at Australia Post Group, having commenced in the role in June 2021. Julian has over 20 years of experience in workers compensation, claims management and rehabilitation activities across State and Comcare schemes in the waste management, logistics and manufacturing industries.
Chanelle McEnallay
Executive Committee Member
Bio coming soon
Victoria Edwards
Executive Committee Member
Victoria leads a multi-disciplinary team at Virgin Australia. Her extensive expertise spans change management, risk management, occupational health and safety, environmental systems, workers’ compensation, occupational rehabilitation, corporate governance, assurance management, people management, process control, and project management. Outside of her professional endeavours, Victoria finds joy in playing and watching netball,
Shane Tucker
Shane Tucker is a senior WHS and risk management professional with extensive experience leading safety, compliance, and governance functions across transport, construction, and law enforcement. He is currently the General Manager of Safety, Risk & Compliance at Ron Finemore Transport, where he develops and implements WHS and Chain of Responsibility
Catherine Roberts
Cath is the Manager of the Wellbeing and Workers Compensation team at ANZ, where she leads a dedicated group responsible for both claims management and rehabilitation support. With a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, Cath brings deep expertise and a compassionate approach to her work, placing recovery and the individual’s