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How to Choose a Workers Compensation Psychologist in NSW

1. SIRA approval: the non-negotiable requirement

To bill psychology sessions to your workers compensation insurer under the NSW scheme, the psychologist must hold a current SIRA provider number. This is a registration with the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) that is separate from their AHPRA registration as a psychologist.

Not every AHPRA-registered psychologist is SIRA-approved. A psychologist may be fully qualified and competent but not have taken the steps to register with SIRA. Seeing a non-SIRA-approved psychologist for workers compensation treatment means your insurer will likely not cover the cost, and you could be personally responsible for the session fee.

You can verify SIRA approval at the SIRA health provider search. Search by the practitioner's name or practice name. If they do not appear, ask them to confirm their SIRA provider number before your first appointment.

2. Treating psychologist vs IME: an important distinction

In the workers compensation context, "psychologist" can refer to two very different roles.

Treating psychologist

A treating psychologist provides your ongoing psychological treatment. Their primary obligation is to your wellbeing and recovery. You choose your treating psychologist (with input from your GP). They submit Allied Health Treatment Requests (AHTRs) to your insurer to obtain funding approval, write progress reports, and work collaboratively with your GP and other treating parties. The sessions funded by your insurer are with your treating psychologist.

Independent Medical Examiner (IME)

An IME is a psychologist appointed by the insurer to assess your condition at a particular point in time. The IME is not your treating practitioner. Their report is prepared for the insurer's purposes and informs claims decisions. You do not choose your IME, and the IME does not provide treatment. IME sessions are arranged by the insurer and are separate from your treatment.

When using this directory to find a psychologist for your claim, you are looking for a treating psychologist, not an IME. Some psychologists do both roles (treating and IME work for different clients), but the roles are strictly separate for any given claim.

3. What to look for in a treating psychologist

Beyond SIRA approval, the following factors are worth considering.

Experience with the workers compensation system

The workers compensation claims process has specific requirements that not all psychologists are familiar with: AHTR submission and renewal, SIRA Clinical Framework reporting, progress report formats, return-to-work goal-setting, and communication with insurers. A psychologist who has extensive experience with SIRA claims will manage this administrative process more smoothly, which reduces delays in getting your treatment funded and continued.

Ask how many workers compensation clients they currently or previously work with, and whether they are familiar with AHTR reporting and SIRA Clinical Framework requirements.

Specialism in relevant presentations

Workers compensation psychological injury claims often involve presentations including:

• Workplace trauma and PTSD (workplace accident, violence, harassment)
• Adjustment disorder from workplace conflict or job loss
• Anxiety and depression arising from work-related stress
• Chronic pain with a psychological component (secondary psychological injury)
• Complex cases involving both physical and psychological injury

Look for a psychologist with documented experience in the specific presentation relevant to your claim. A psychologist who focuses primarily on other areas (for example, child psychology or eating disorders) may have less relevant experience for your situation, even if they are SIRA-approved.

Approach to return-to-work

The SIRA Clinical Framework for the Delivery of Health Services includes an expectation that treatment supports a safe return to work where appropriate and possible. A treating psychologist who understands this framework and can set measurable goals tied to functional recovery will be better placed to support your claim and justify ongoing sessions to your insurer.

This does not mean the psychologist pushes you to return to work before you are ready — it means they work with you on realistic, time-framed goals in a way the insurer can evaluate. If a psychologist is unfamiliar with the SIRA Clinical Framework, this may create friction in your claim.

Communication style and fit

The workers compensation context can be adversarial and stressful. A treating psychologist who communicates clearly, answers your questions about the process, and makes you feel heard is as important here as in any other psychological treatment context. The therapeutic relationship remains a key predictor of outcomes even within the structured workers compensation environment.

4. Questions to ask before starting

Before committing to a first session, it is reasonable to ask the following:

About SIRA approval and the process

• Can you confirm your SIRA provider number?
• Are you familiar with the AHTR process and SIRA Clinical Framework requirements?
• Have you managed workers compensation claims through icare?
• Who handles the AHTR submission and renewal — you or administrative staff?

About your presentation

• Do you have experience treating [your specific presentation — PTSD, adjustment disorder, chronic pain, workplace anxiety]?
• What therapy approaches would you use for someone in my situation?
• Have you worked with both primary psychological injury and secondary psychological injury (arising from physical injury) claims?

About the practical arrangement

• Is telehealth available, and do you use PSY301/PSY302 billing items?
• Does the insurer need to pre-approve telehealth, or can we start with in-person first?
• What do I need to bring or organise before the first session (referral letter, claim number, certificate of capacity)?
• What is your cancellation policy, and does it differ for workers comp clients?

5. Telehealth under workers compensation

Telehealth psychology is available under NSW workers compensation. The SIRA billing items PSY301 (initial telehealth session, 60 minutes) and PSY302 (subsequent telehealth session, 60 minutes) are gazetted at the same rates as equivalent in-person sessions. As of 1 February 2026, the rates are approximately:

SIRA gazetted rates, effective 1 February 2026 (4.57% indexation applied). Source: SIRA NSW fee schedule. Rates indexed periodically.

Telehealth is particularly useful for workers whose physical injury makes travel difficult, those in areas with limited in-person availability, and those whose work schedule makes in-person attendance impractical. The session quality and insurer-approved status of telehealth sessions are the same as in-person.

Some insurers may require specific approval for telehealth delivery. Ask your psychologist to confirm with your insurer before starting if there is any uncertainty about whether telehealth is covered under your specific claim.

6. Switching psychologists during your claim

You can change your treating psychologist during an active workers compensation claim. Reasons to switch include:

• The therapeutic relationship is not working and has not improved after reasonable discussion
• Your psychologist is not available at the frequency or format your treatment requires
• You have relocated and need a psychologist accessible by telehealth or in a different area
• Your psychologist has stopped working with workers compensation clients

To switch:

1. Inform your insurer (case manager) that you are changing treating psychologist and provide the new psychologist's details and SIRA provider number.
2. Your new psychologist will need to submit a new AHTR to the insurer requesting approval for treatment. Allow time for this before your first funded session.
3. Your new psychologist may ask for a summary of previous treatment from your former psychologist (with your consent) to continue care effectively.
4. Inform your GP of the change so their records are updated.

Switching is clinically appropriate when necessary. Your insurer cannot direct you to stay with a treating psychologist against your will — the treating relationship is yours to choose.

Common questions