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Workers Compensation Psychologist for Construction Workers in NSW

Is there a list of SIRA-approved psychologists for construction workers?

There is no separate construction-sector provider register. Any SIRA-registered psychologist can treat a construction worker under the NSW workers compensation scheme. What matters is that the psychologist holds a current SIRA provider number and can bill icare (or your employer's insurer) directly.

The listings include SIRA-approved registered psychologists who accept workers compensation clients, including those offering telehealth appointments. For construction workers, the telehealth filter is worth using first, because sessions fit around shifts and are not tied to a practice that may be nowhere near your current site.

Which situation are you in?

What to look for in a psychologist for a construction workers comp claim

Not every psychologist has experience with the workers compensation system. The icare/SIRA scheme has specific billing requirements, treatment reporting obligations, and AHTR approval processes that are separate from private practice and Medicare. When searching, ask these questions directly before booking:

1. Do you have a current SIRA provider number? Without this, the psychologist cannot bill your insurer directly. You would be paying out of pocket and claiming reimbursement, which adds friction and risk of gaps. Most AHPRA-registered psychologists can obtain a SIRA provider number, but not all have done so. Confirm before booking.
2. Can you bill icare (or my insurer) directly? Direct billing means the psychologist invoices the insurer; you pay nothing for approved sessions. Some practices prefer upfront private fees and reimbursement; that is their right, but it is not the norm and not what most workers comp clients need.
3. Have you treated workers with construction-related psychological injury before? Work-related PTSD (from witnessed accidents), cumulative stress from sustained high-pressure site environments, and workplace bullying presentations are all common in construction. A psychologist who regularly works with workers compensation clients will have more familiarity with the claim process and reporting requirements, which reduces friction for your claim.
4. Can you offer telehealth? For construction workers who move between sites, work irregular shifts, or are based in outer suburban or regional locations, in-person-only practices are often impractical. Telehealth sessions attract the same SIRA gazetted rates as in-person sessions.
5. Are you comfortable with the AHTR process and providing progress reports to the insurer? The AHTR (Allied Health Treatment Request) is how ongoing sessions are approved. Your psychologist submits this after the initial assessment. Confirm they understand the process and are willing to write the required clinical reports.

Why telehealth suits construction workers

Construction work creates specific practical barriers to in-person psychology that telehealth removes:

• Site locations: Construction sites are regularly in outer suburban, greenfield, or regional areas where private psychology practices are sparse. A telehealth session means you are not looking for a psychologist near a site that may change next month.
• Shift patterns: Early starts, variable hours, and physically demanding rosters make fixed daytime in-person appointments difficult to maintain. Many telehealth psychologists offer early morning or evening sessions that fit around construction hours.
• Session continuity: Maintaining a relationship with the same psychologist via telehealth across multiple project locations or sites is far simpler than finding a new in-person practitioner each time you move.
• Privacy: Some workers are reluctant to walk into a local psychology practice in a suburb where they are known. Telehealth removes the visibility concern.
• No travel cost or lost time: A telehealth session can happen from your car, from home, or from a private space on site during a break.

Telehealth psychology under workers compensation uses billing items PSY301 (initial 60-minute consultation) and PSY302 (subsequent 60-minute consultations), the same items used for in-person sessions. There is no reduction in the insurer-paid rate for telehealth. Source: SIRA 2026 Psychology and Counselling Fees and Practice Requirements (effective 1 February 2026).

Session costs: what SIRA pays in 2026

For insurer-approved claims under NSW workers compensation, the session fees are set by SIRA's gazetted schedule. As at 1 February 2026 (following the 2026 indexation increase):

These rates apply to telehealth and in-person sessions equally. For an approved claim, the insurer pays the psychologist directly at these rates and you pay nothing. If a psychologist charges above the SIRA schedule rate, they must bill you the difference, which is uncommon for practitioners experienced with the workers compensation scheme. Source: SIRA 2026 Psychology and Counselling Fees and Practice Requirements.

There is no fixed session cap under workers compensation, unlike Medicare's 10-session limit. Sessions continue as long as your treating psychologist submits AHTR renewals that are approved by your insurer as reasonably necessary for your recovery.

The 2026 reform: what changes for construction workers

From 1 July 2026, the NSW workers compensation scheme introduced changes that affect weekly income payments for primary psychological injuries:

• 130-week cap on weekly payments: Weekly income payments for primary psychological injuries are capped at 130 weeks from the date of injury. This cap does not affect funding for psychology treatment sessions, which continues under the AHTR model.
• Extended payments for high-impairment claims: Workers assessed at 25% or more Whole Person Impairment (WPI) for injuries notified from 1 July 2026 may continue weekly payments beyond 130 weeks. Workers assessed at 21 to 24% WPI may access an additional 52 weeks at a reduced rate.
• Lump-sum threshold unchanged: The threshold to access lump-sum compensation for psychological injury remains at 15% WPI. This was not changed by the 2026 reform.

For most construction workers currently in treatment, the immediate practical change is limited: the psychology session funding model is unchanged. The reform primarily affects income replacement payments for claims that extend beyond two and a half years. Source: Personal Injury Commission NSW, Workers Compensation Changes to Commence 1 July 2026.

For a full breakdown of the reform and what it means for psychological injury claimants, see the 2026 reform guide.

Frequently asked questions

This guide provides general educational information about the NSW workers compensation scheme. It is not legal, insurance, or clinical advice. SIRA rates are current as at 1 February 2026. Reform information is sourced from the Personal Injury Commission NSW (pi.nsw.gov.au). Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW). Refer to icare NSW and SIRA NSW for current guidance. Mates in Construction: matesinconstruction.com.au.