Home › WorkCover to SIRA NSW
WorkCover to SIRA Psychology NSW: Which Scheme Covers Your Injury?
Short answer: If you were injured at work in NSW, your claim is under SIRA/icare -- not WorkCover, which was replaced in 2015. The psychologist you need holds a current SIRA provider number. This is the same thing that was once called "WorkCover-approved." If your claim started before 2015, it was transitioned to icare/SIRA and the same provider requirement applies now.
Disclaimer: Workers Comp Psychologist Sydney is a directory service, not a registered psychologist or health practitioner, and does not provide clinical or legal advice. This guide provides general information about the NSW workers compensation scheme. For your specific claim, contact icare (13 77 22 or 1800 737 822) or SIRA (13 10 50).
Which Situation Are You In?
Use this table to identify which scheme covers your injury and what provider you need.
| Your situation | Which scheme | Provider you need |
|---|---|---|
| Injured at work in NSW (any date) | SIRA/icare NSW | Psychologist with a current SIRA provider number |
| NSW claim opened before 2015 (WorkCover era) | Transitioned to SIRA/icare NSW | Same: current SIRA provider number required now |
| Searching "WorkCover psychologist NSW" | SIRA/icare NSW (same scheme, new name) | Psychologist with a current SIRA provider number |
| Injured at work in Victoria | WorkSafe Victoria (separate scheme) | WorkSafe Victoria-accredited psychologist. See: WorkSafe vs SIRA guide |
| Federal or Commonwealth employee (anywhere in Australia) | Comcare (federal scheme) | Comcare-approved provider. See: Comcare guide |
| Injured in a motor vehicle accident in NSW | CTP scheme (SIRA, separate pathway) | SIRA-approved provider under the CTP scheme. See: CTP psychology NSW guide |
WorkCover vs SIRA: What the Terms Mean Now
Many people use "WorkCover" and "SIRA" as if they refer to the same body. They do refer to the same NSW scheme, but at different points in time. In 2015, WorkCover NSW was restructured into three separate organisations. The table below translates the old terminology into what applies today.
| What you might say or search | What it means now (post-2015) |
|---|---|
| "WorkCover NSW" | No longer active. The regulatory role is now SIRA; the insurance role is now icare. |
| "WorkCover-approved psychologist" | Now called a SIRA-registered psychologist. Same requirement, updated name: hold a current SIRA provider number. |
| "WorkCover claim" (NSW) | Now managed by icare under SIRA rules. Practically identical process for injured workers; the contact number is icare (13 77 22). |
| "WorkCover insurance" (NSW) | icare is now the insurer for most NSW workers compensation claims. Some large employers are self-insurers under SIRA regulation. |
| "WorkCover psychologist list" | The SIRA health care provider register at sira.nsw.gov.au/information-search/health-care-providers. Select "Psychologist" to filter. |
What the SIRA Provider Number Means for Your Psychology Sessions
A SIRA provider number is issued by SIRA to psychologists (and other health professionals) who register as NSW workers compensation health care providers. This number allows them to bill your icare insurer directly for approved sessions. If a psychologist does not hold a current SIRA provider number, they cannot bill the insurer and your sessions will not be covered under your claim.
The billing codes used for workers compensation psychology sessions are PSY301 (initial consultation, 60 minutes including telehealth) and PSY302 (subsequent consultations, 60 minutes including telehealth). SIRA gazetted rates for 2026 are PSY301 at $284.40 and PSY302 at $237.60, per alliedhealthaccounting.com.au. These are paid by the insurer -- for approved claims, most workers pay no out-of-pocket fee for sessions.
Telehealth-available psychologists who accept workers compensation referrals in NSW. No cost to browse.
How to Access Psychology Under Your NSW Claim
The steps are the same whether you call the scheme WorkCover or SIRA:
- Report your injury to your employer and lodge a claim with icare. Your employer is required to notify icare within 48 hours of a serious injury. You can also contact icare directly on 13 77 22.
- See your GP. Your GP writes a Certificate of Capacity and a referral for psychology treatment. This document is part of the treatment approval pathway and should name a SIRA-registered psychologist.
- Choose a SIRA-registered psychologist. You have the right to choose your own treating psychologist -- your employer or insurer cannot require you to see a specific practitioner. Search the SIRA health care provider register or browse this directory to find telehealth-available SIRA-registered psychologists in NSW.
- Confirm with the practice before booking. Ask: "Do you hold a current SIRA provider number and accept NSW workers compensation clients?" This avoids billing surprises at your first session.
- Treatment approval (AHTR). For ongoing sessions beyond the initial approved period, your psychologist submits an Allied Health Treatment Request (AHTR) to icare. When approved, sessions continue to be funded with no fixed cap on the total number.
A Note on the 2026 Changes
NSW workers compensation law changed again from 1 July 2026. The changes that matter most for psychological injury claimants:
- A 130-week cap now applies to weekly income payments for primary psychological injuries (previously uncapped for many claimants)
- From 1 July 2026, the WPI threshold for accessing weekly compensation beyond 130 weeks rises to 25% (Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (NSW), assented 11 Feb 2026)
- The lump-sum compensation threshold remains 15% WPI -- no change
- Treatment funding -- including psychology sessions under the AHTR -- is not affected by these caps and continues under the same model
These changes apply under SIRA rules whether or not you think of your claim as a "WorkCover" or "SIRA" claim. For a full breakdown, see the NSW workers compensation reform 2026 guide.
Common Questions
Is my injury covered by WorkCover or SIRA?
If your workplace injury occurred in NSW, it is covered by the NSW workers compensation scheme. That scheme is now administered by SIRA (State Insurance Regulatory Authority) and icare. WorkCover NSW was replaced in 2015 and no longer exists. All NSW claims -- before and after 2015 -- are managed under SIRA rules. Contact icare on 13 77 22 if you are unsure which scheme applies to your specific situation.
Do I need a WorkCover psychologist or a SIRA psychologist?
The credential is the same under a different name. "WorkCover-approved" was the pre-2015 terminology; "SIRA provider number" is what it is called now. Any psychologist who can bill your NSW workers compensation insurer holds a current SIRA provider number. Ask them directly before booking: "Do you hold a current SIRA provider number and accept workers compensation clients?"
My claim started before 2015 under WorkCover. Does it matter?
No. Claims that started under WorkCover NSW were transitioned to icare/SIRA when the scheme restructured in 2015. Your claim is now managed under SIRA rules regardless of when the injury occurred. The provider requirement is unchanged: your psychologist needs a current SIRA provider number. Contact icare on 13 77 22 if you have questions about a legacy claim.
What is the difference between SIRA and icare?
SIRA (State Insurance Regulatory Authority) is the NSW government regulator. It sets the rules, the gazetted fee schedule, and maintains the health care provider register. icare (Insurance and Care NSW) is the insurer. It manages most NSW workers compensation claims and pays providers directly when treatment is approved. When you lodge a claim, icare is your day-to-day contact. SIRA sets the rules icare must follow.
How do I check that my psychologist can bill my workers compensation claim?
Search the SIRA health care provider register at sira.nsw.gov.au/information-search/health-care-providers. Select "Psychologist" from the provider type dropdown and search by name or suburb. You can also ask the practice before your first appointment: "Do you hold a current SIRA provider number and accept NSW workers compensation clients?" Psychologists not on the SIRA register cannot bill your insurer directly.
Looking for information on the specific differences between states? See: WorkSafe vs SIRA: psychology under workers compensation in NSW vs Victoria.
NSW workers compensation claim? Find a SIRA-registered psychologist here.
Coverage is NSW (SIRA/icare) only. All listed practitioners hold current SIRA provider numbers and offer telehealth. Browse by specialty, suburb, or language.
Browse the NSW directoryNo cost to browse. You will need a GP referral to start treatment under a workers compensation claim. Workers Comp Psychologist Sydney is a directory service, not a registered psychologist or health practitioner.