Importing Data and Exporting Results

The Economic Loss Analyser supports multiple ways to get data in and results out. This article covers importing claimant earnings from spreadsheets, loading ABS AWE data, and exporting your completed analysis as a comprehensive Word document.

Importing Earnings Data

Uploading a Spreadsheet

To import actual earnings data (such as from ATO income statements or tax returns):

1. Select the relevant dataset (typically Claimant Dataset) from the Dataset dropdown
2. Click Add Earnings Period and set the financial year range
3. Choose Upload / Manual Entry as the source and click Next
4. Click Download Excel Template to get a pre-formatted spreadsheet with rows for each financial year in your selected range. Fill it with the claimant's ATO data: financial year, gross earnings, and tax paid
5. Drag and drop the completed file into the upload area (or click to browse). Accepted formats are CSV, XLS, and XLSX
6. The system reads the file and displays a preview. Verify the column mapping using the dropdowns above the data to confirm each column is mapped to the correct field:
   • Financial Year -- the financial year label (e.g. "2020/21")
   • Gross Yearly Income or Gross Weekly Income -- the earnings figure
   • Tax -- the tax paid for the period
7. Review the data in the editable preview. You can correct any values directly in the table
8. Click Import Data to load the earnings into the analysis

Loading ABS AWE Data

ABS Average Weekly Earnings data is built into the system. To load it:

1. Select the dataset (typically Comparison Dataset)
2. Click Add Earnings Period and set the financial year range
3. Choose ABS Average Weekly Earnings as the source and click Next
4. Configure the parameters:
   • Sex -- Male or Female
   • Industry -- select from 19 ABS industry classifications (e.g. All Industries)
   • ABS Data Set -- Full Time Ordinary Earnings, Full Time Total Earnings, or Total Earnings
5. Click OK to load the data

The earnings table populates immediately with the AWE figures for each financial year in the range. The chart updates to show the comparison trajectory alongside any existing claimant data.

Using Estimate Data

For periods where no published or actual data is available -- particularly for projecting earnings into the future:

1. Add an earnings period and choose Estimate Data as the source
2. Set a Start Amount -- for example, $109,226/year if continuing from where the ABS data left off
3. Choose whether to increase by a dollar amount or percentage each year (e.g. 3% yearly increase)
4. Set the increase Value
5. Choose whether to Apply From the first or second year. Select second year for a smoother transition when continuing from actual data
6. Click OK to generate the projected earnings

You can add Estimate periods to both the Comparison and Claimant datasets to project future earnings for each.

Exporting Results

Exporting the Chart as an Image

Click the Export Chart button below the Economic Loss Comparison chart. A high-resolution PNG image is saved to your downloads folder. The image uses a white background for clean printing and reproduction in documents.

Exporting as a Word Document

Click the Export button in the top-right corner of the page to generate a comprehensive Word document report. This is the primary output of the Economic Loss Analyser -- a document formatted and ready for use in submissions, correspondence, mediation packs, or as an attachment to an expert report.

Report Structure

The exported Word document contains the following sections:

1. Title Page -- "Claim Cal Economic Loss Analysis Report" with the report generation date

2. Table of Contents -- an auto-generated table of contents linking to each section

3. Analysis Name -- the name you gave the analysis (e.g. "Past and Future Loss -- Smith v Jones")

4. Annotations -- a list of all annotations added to the analysis (e.g. "2004/05 Injury")

5. Loss Value Calculations -- the core results, including the Settlement/Judgement Date used for the past/future split. This section contains two tables:

   • Comparison v Claimant -- with columns for Total Loss, Past Loss, Future Loss, and Future Loss Average per Week, with rows for Income (Gross), Income (Net), and Superannuation

   • Comparison v Loss Line (with the impairment percentage noted, e.g. "19% impairment") -- the same table structure, showing the loss figures adjusted for the specified impairment

6. Comparison Earnings Table -- a full year-by-year table showing Financial Year, Gross Weekly, Gross Yearly, Tax, Net Yearly, Net Weekly, and Superannuation for every year in the comparison dataset

7. Claimant Earnings Table -- the same year-by-year table structure for the claimant dataset

8. Superannuation Rate Tables -- the superannuation guarantee rates applied to each dataset, listed by financial year

9. Notes on Calculations -- detailed methodology notes explaining:

   • Comparison v Claimant -- how the loss is calculated as the subtraction of claimant earnings from comparison earnings
   • Loss Line methodology -- how the impairment percentage is applied to comparison earnings, including the overcompensation avoidance safeguard (where claimant earnings exceed the Loss Line, the Loss Line equals the claimant's earnings for that year)
   • Tax calculation methodology -- how taxes are calculated using ATO income tax tables, Medicare levy (including low-income thresholds and shade-in rates), Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), and Low to Middle Income Tax Offset (LMITO)
   • AWE weighted average methodology -- how the weighted average is calculated for financial years with two survey results: (May x 4 + November x 6 + following May x 2) / 12

10. Appendix A: Economic Loss Graph -- a full-page landscape version of the Economic Loss Comparison chart, suitable for printing or inclusion in submissions

Auto-Save

Your analysis is saved automatically as you work. A status indicator in the top-right corner shows:

• Saved (green tick) -- all changes have been saved
• Saving... (spinning icon) -- a save is in progress
• Unsaved changes (warning icon) -- changes are queued and will be saved shortly

You do not need to manually save at any point. If you navigate away and return, the analysis will be exactly as you left it.