For insurers, self-insurers and claims agents
Investigation services for claims teams.
Factum Investigations is a licensed provider of factual investigation, surveillance, incident investigation and aerial scene capture. We work for insurers, self-insurers and claims agents on workers compensation, CTP and public liability claims. Based in Newcastle, working across the Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast and New England.
Capability
Four services for insurers, from one licensed provider.
Factual Investigations
Interviews with the worker and witnesses, site inspection and document collection on workers compensation, work injury damages and public liability claims. Reported as what was said, seen and shown, with no opinion on liability or medical questions.
Factual investigationsSurveillance
Conducted only in or from public places, only of the worker named in the referral, and without inducement, entrapment or trespass, consistent with SIRA Standard of practice S25 as amended in December 2025 and the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW).
SurveillanceIncident & Workplace Investigations
ICAM-structured incident investigations for employers and their insurers: causation, witness statements, and the facts behind reasonable management action. Our report sets out the facts and the process. Whether that action was reasonable is a decision for the commission or court, not for us.
Incident and workplace investigationsAerial Scene Capture
Scenes and sites documented from the air, flown by a CASA remote pilot licence holder on a registered drone. Used to record places and their layout, not to observe people.
Aerial scene captureOther services: background checks and skip tracing, where a referral calls for them.
Compliance
How the work is governed.
Licensing sits under the NSW security industry regime. The standard we work to depends on the scheme the claim sits in.
Licensing
- Factum Investigations is licensed under the Security Industry Act 1997 (NSW). NSW Master Licence 000111255.
- In NSW, an external provider of factual investigation or surveillance services must hold a security licence. Factum is a licensed external provider.
- A security licence does not give an investigator any legal powers beyond those of any other member of the public. We gather evidence lawfully and within the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW).
Standards we work to
- Workers compensation: SIRA's Standards of practice S24 (factual investigations) and S25 (surveillance, as amended in December 2025). SIRA does not license or accredit investigators. Its Standards set expectations for insurers, and we structure our work so that insurers can meet them.
- CTP: Part 4 of SIRA's Motor Accident Guidelines, which require a licensed investigator under the Security Industry Act 1997 and set their own rules for interviews and surveillance.
- Public liability and other general insurance claims: the claims investigation standards in the General Insurance Code of Practice, including its interview protections. Public liability claims are not regulated by SIRA.
- All work: the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW), the Privacy Act and the licensing conditions that govern private investigation in NSW.
Regulatory references on this site were checked on 1 October 2026. SIRA has announced a review of all Standards of practice during 2026, and we update our processes when standards change.
Coverage
Based in Newcastle. Working across four regions.
Interviews, inspections and surveillance are attended from Newcastle, by appointment. Travel is agreed at referral.
How referrals work
By email, in writing, under licence.
Referral by email
Referrals come by email to info@factum.au and set out the reason for the investigation, the parties, whether an interpreter is needed, the claim information the investigation needs rather than the whole file, and the scope.
Scope, timing and conflict check
We confirm the scope and the reporting date in writing, run a conflict check against our existing matters, and raise any question about lawfulness or achievability before work starts. Timing is agreed per referral.
Investigation under licence
Work is carried out by licensed investigators, within the standard that applies to the scheme and within the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW). Any change to scope is agreed with the instructing party in writing before it is acted on.
Report and storage
The report is delivered in writing with statements and exhibits and, for surveillance, the log and footage. Material is stored securely, provided only to the instructing party, and written on the basis that the worker may be entitled to a copy.
Limits
What we do not do.
- Offer opinions on liability, recovery, capacity or any medical aspect of a claim. Those are matters for the insurer.
- Conduct surveillance outside the expectations that apply to the claim. Under SIRA Standard of practice S25 that means only in or from public places, only of the worker named in the referral, and without inducement, entrapment or trespass, including through social media.
- Carry out covert surveillance of employees at work. Where an employer asks about surveillance of staff, we explain the notice and authority requirements of the Workplace Surveillance Act 2005 (NSW) first.
- Record conversations, make pretext calls or approach a claimant under a false identity.
- Fly a drone to observe people. Aerial capture documents scenes and sites.
- Start work without a written scope, or discuss a matter with anyone outside the engagement.
Ready to start