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NSW Workers Comp Psychology Statistics (2025-26)
Five figures that define the NSW psychological injury workers compensation picture: The average claim cost $288,542 in 2024-25, up from $146,000 in 2019-20. Psychological claims are 12% of all NSW workers comp claims but 38% of total scheme costs. Claim numbers have doubled in six years. Only 60% of claimants have returned to work within one year (versus 88% of physical-injury workers within 13 weeks). And in 2024-25, 2.8 million Australians accessed Medicare mental health services nationally - a separate pathway from workers compensation with different funding rules. Sources: NSW Treasurer, Ministerial Statement, 18 March 2025; AIHW Medicare mental health services 2024-25.
Last updated: July 2026
This page is a statistics reference hub. Each section links to a deeper guide where the underlying data, methodology notes, and full source citations are set out in detail. Every figure cited here was drawn from a primary source confirmed live in July 2026 or from the site's verified-facts registry for sources that block automated fetches. No figures are estimated or extrapolated.
1. Key figures at a glance
All figures in the table below come from the NSW Treasurer's Ministerial Statement to the NSW Legislative Council, 18 March 2025. They cover the NSW workers compensation scheme (icare / SIRA) specifically, not national data.
| Statistic | Figure | Period / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Average cost per claim | $288,542 | 2024-25 (up from $146,000 in 2019-20) |
| Share of total claims | 12% | Psychological claims as % of all NSW workers comp claims |
| Share of total scheme cost | 38% | Psychological claims as % of total scheme expenditure |
| Claim volume growth | +100% (doubled) | Over six years; other injury types +16% in the same period |
| Return to work within 13 weeks (physical injury) | 88% | All physical injury types, icare scheme |
| Still off work after one year (psychological injury) | 40% | Different measure from the 88% figure above - see note below |
| Projected additional workers injured | 80,000 | Over five years, if claims continue growing at recent rates (iCare's expectation, per the Treasurer) |
2. Claim cost growth
The average cost of a NSW psychological injury workers compensation claim nearly doubled in five years: from $146,000 in 2019-20 to $288,542 in 2024-25. This is the scheme's average cost to process an accepted claim across its full lifespan, covering income replacement payments, medical and psychological treatment, case management, and any lump-sum compensation. It is not an amount paid directly by or to the worker.
The 12%/38% cost concentration tells the rest of the story: psychological injury claimants represent a minority of the scheme's caseload but account for more than a third of what it spends. This disproportion reflects two compounding factors: higher average cost per claim AND longer claim duration, which extends the income replacement and treatment periods.
For a full breakdown with data tables and source quotes, see: NSW psychological injury claims: cost and return-to-work statistics (March 2025 Ministerial Statement data).
3. Claim volumes and growth trend
The NSW Treasurer's statement said psychological injury claim numbers had doubled in six years, versus 16% growth for all other injury types combined. iCare expects an additional 80,000 people will be injured over the next five years if claims continue growing at recent rates - a figure the Treasurer cited as a primary driver for the 2026 legislative reforms (see our 2026 reform guide).
The national trend mirrors the NSW picture. Safe Work Australia's Key Work Health and Safety Statistics report found that mental health condition claims grew 161% nationally over the decade to 2023-24 - the largest increase of any workplace injury category. For the full national trend data, see our claims growth trend page.
4. Return-to-work outcomes
Return to work is substantially slower for workers with psychological injuries than for workers with physical injuries, across both the NSW scheme-level data (the Treasurer's statement) and national survey data (the ABS Work-Related Injuries Survey 2021-22, which found psychological and stress conditions resulted in an average 43.7 days off work - the longest of any injury category and 51% longer than the next highest, fractures at 29.0 days).
Full return-to-work data, including the ABS recovery-days breakdown by injury type, is on our work-related psychological injury data page.
5. How psychological treatment is funded under workers compensation
Workers with an accepted psychological injury workers compensation claim in NSW have their psychological treatment funded directly by the insurer (icare, or a licensed insurer) at SIRA's gazetted fee schedule rates. There is no gap fee for approved sessions. This is a materially different pathway from Medicare's Better Access scheme, which has a rebate cap and a typical out-of-pocket gap.
For the full fee schedule comparison, including current SIRA rates, Medicare rebates, and private psychology rates, see our workers comp psychology cost guide.
6. National mental health services context: where workers compensation fits
Workers compensation is one of several funded pathways for psychological treatment in Australia, and not the most commonly used one. According to AIHW data for 2024-25:
- 2.8 million Australians (approximately 10% of the population) received Medicare mental health services during the year.
- 13.0 million Medicare mental health services were provided in total.
- Half of these were delivered by psychologists, and 96% were delivered out-of-hospital.
- Service rates were highest among people aged 18-34 and among women in that age group.
Source: AIHW, Medicare mental health services 2024-25. aihw.gov.au - confirmed live July 2026.
7. Finding a SIRA-experienced psychologist
There is no formal "SIRA-approved" registration category for psychologists - the formal registration body is AHPRA, and SIRA-experienced providers are AHPRA-registered psychologists who have experience treating workers compensation psychological injuries and are familiar with the treatment request, reporting, and billing requirements under the icare/SIRA framework.
Browse the directory of AHPRA-registered psychologists with workers compensation experience who offer telehealth sessions under the NSW workers compensation scheme. If you prefer to describe your situation and get a match, use the find a psychologist form.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of a psychological injury workers compensation claim in NSW?
$288,542 in 2024-25, up from $146,000 in 2019-20, according to the NSW Treasurer's March 2025 Ministerial Statement. This is the scheme's average cost per accepted claim across its full lifespan.
How many NSW workers compensation claims are psychological injuries?
Psychological injury claims make up 12% of all NSW workers compensation claims but account for 38% of total scheme costs, per the same statement. In volume terms, the number has doubled over six years.
Do psychological injuries take longer to recover from than physical injuries?
Yes. The NSW Treasurer cited that 40% of psychological injury claimants were still off work after one year, compared to 88% of physical-injury workers returning within 13 weeks (noting these are different measures). ABS national survey data shows psychological injuries average 43.7 days off work - the highest of any injury category, 51% longer than fractures.
How many Australians accessed mental health services in 2024-25?
2.8 million Australians (10% of the population) received Medicare mental health services in 2024-25, across 13.0 million service contacts, per AIHW - half of them delivered by psychologists. This covers all mental health conditions and is a separate pathway from workers compensation funding.
Is there a gap fee for psychology under workers compensation?
No. Workers with an accepted psychological injury claim in NSW have their psychology sessions funded directly by the insurer at SIRA's gazetted fee schedule rates, with no out-of-pocket cost. See our cost guide for the full fee schedule.
Sources
- NSW Government. Workers Compensation Ministerial Statement. Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, NSW Legislative Council. 18 March 2025. nsw.gov.au - confirmed live July 2026.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Medicare mental health services 2024-25. aihw.gov.au - confirmed live July 2026.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Work-Related Injuries Survey 2021-22. (Recovery days by injury type.) See full data reference page for detail and direct link.
- Safe Work Australia. Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2025. (161% national mental health claim growth, decade to 2023-24.) See claims trend page for detail and direct link.
Cite or share this data
This compilation is openly licensed under CC BY 4.0. The underlying figures remain the property of their original sources (NSW Government, AIHW, ABS, Safe Work Australia).
Suggested citation:
Workers Comp Psychologist Sydney. "NSW Workers Comp Psychology Statistics 2025-26." July 2026. workerscomppsychologist.com.au/nsw-workers-comp-psychology-statistics/ Data errors or updates can be reported via our contact form.
Detailed guides and data pages
- NSW psychological injury claims: cost and return-to-work statistics - the NSW Treasurer's March 2025 figures in full, with tables, SVG charts, and source quotes.
- Psychological injury: the fastest-growing workers compensation claim type in Australia - the 161% national growth trend over a decade and NSW-specific figures from SIRA and icare.
- Work-related psychological injury in NSW and Australia: what the public data shows - ABS injury survey context, recovery durations, SIRA fees, and data availability notes.
- Workers comp psychology cost NSW - SIRA's gazetted fee schedule and what a worker actually pays.
- NSW workers compensation reform 2026 - what changed on 1 July 2026 for primary psychological injury claims.
- Psychological injury claims under NSW workers compensation - the claims process, section 11A exclusion, and treatment pathway explained.
About this page: This is a data reference resource produced by Workers Comp Psychologist Sydney, a directory of AHPRA-registered psychologists with workers compensation experience in NSW. Workers Comp Psychologist Sydney is not a registered psychologist or health practitioner. This page does not constitute legal or clinical advice. If your situation is legally complex, consult a workers compensation solicitor. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or 13YARN on 13 92 76. This directory is not a crisis service.