Quality review of health assessments under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme 2026

From July 2026, RSHQ will undertake a clinical quality review of health assessment practices conducted by approved doctors under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme.

RSHQ has engaged a specialist clinical team to support delivery of the review. The team includes Dr Clare Wood, Dr Andrew Lingwood and Dr Helena Hurst, together with Professor Karen Walker-Bone and Associate Professor Ryan Hoy from the Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health at Monash University. Collectively, the team brings expertise in clinical review, occupational and environmental health, respiratory health, data analysis and the evaluation of complex occupational health frameworks.

The project will use structured case review, data analysis and stakeholder engagement to identify trends, variation and opportunities to improve policy, guidance and operational processes.

The review will focus on four primary areas:

• whether approved doctor decisions align with the Mine Dust Lung Disease Clinical Pathways Guideline (CPG) (PDF, 470KB)
• whether applied restrictions are clinically appropriate and consistent with the Returning workers with mine dust lung diseases to the workplace guidelines (PDF)
• establishing an RSHQ position on telehealth, new technologies (e.g. digital stethoscopes), and assistance of clinical support staff within the CMWHS
• whether doctors apply an appropriate clinical basis when determining causality of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) diagnoses.

Findings will be progressively shared with stakeholders to support transparency and continuous improvement across the Scheme. A final report will be published, outlining key findings, insights and recommended actions.