Can I adjourn a PIC conference, hearing or medical assessment?

Identify the listing, date, case number and event type. Explain the specific obstacle: hospital admission, acute illness, unavoidable conflicting proceeding, interpreter problem, late essential evidence or inability to obtain instructions. Provide a certificate, booking record, affidavit or other document that supports the reason without disclosing unnecessary private information.

State when the problem arose, when the request was made, earlier adjournments, the other party’s position and dates of availability. Explain why video, telephone, a shorter conference, written submissions or attendance by a representative would not solve the problem. This lets the Commission assess fairness and delay rather than guess.

PIC1 expects parties to be prepared and available for listings. PIC10 permits in-person, audio-visual, audio or combined hearings, with the Commission choosing the appropriate venue. Sometimes a venue change is a more proportionate solution than postponement.

A medical assessment may involve a clinical examination that cannot simply proceed through a lawyer. PIC6 paragraph 59 requires a person who cannot attend for any reason to notify the President before the examination date. Give the medical or practical reason, expected duration and realistic availability. Do not contact the Medical Assessor directly.

PIC6 states that failure to attend on two occasions without reasonable excuse may result in dismissal under section 54(a) of the PIC Act. That is not an automatic result after one genuine emergency, but it shows why early notice and evidence matter. The Commission may also need to consider assessor availability and whether a paper assessment or another method is appropriate under Rule 108.

If travel, language, disability or support arrangements cause the problem, ask for the specific accommodation rather than assuming the assessment must be adjourned. The Commission can arrange an interpreter and can determine the assessment method. A support person requires the rules described in PIC6.

Keep monitoring Pathway and email. Unless a new direction or listing notice is issued, continue to prepare and attend if able. Tell medical providers, witnesses and representatives only after the Commission confirms the change. An insurer’s agreement does not itself alter a Commission listing.

If the request is refused, consider the available alternative: attend by the selected electronic method, narrow the event, arrange a substitute representative, make the evidence application separately or ask for reasonable accessibility assistance. Comply respectfully and preserve any objection in writing.

If the event was missed before the request could be made, contact the Registry immediately with the explanation and evidence, ask what order or notice was made in the absence and request appropriate directions. Do not wait for a dismissal notice.