Glossary
Whole person impairment
A percentage measure of permanent impairment expressed against the whole person, used to determine certain scheme entitlements.
Also called: WPI
Definition
Whole person impairment (WPI) is a percentage that expresses the degree of permanent impairment resulting from an injury, measured against the whole person rather than a single body part. In the NSW schemes it is assessed by a trained, accredited assessor using the relevant SIRA-published guidelines, once the injury has stabilised. The WPI figure is used to work out eligibility for lump-sum compensation and certain other entitlements under workers compensation and CTP. It is a threshold measure, not a description of day-to-day function or work capacity.
In practice
A WPI assessment happens later in a claim, after the injury has stabilised, and is carried out by an accredited assessor rather than a rehabilitation provider. Nexus's role sits alongside this: coordinating return-to-work activity and workplace assessment, which focus on function and suitable duties rather than impairment percentages. Nexus does not assess or determine whole person impairment.