Workers compensation?

Workers compensation insurance provides support for workers with a work-related injury.

Most employers in NSW are legally required to have a workers compensation policy to protect them from the costs of workers compensation claims (unless they are exempt).

Workers compensation assists with the costs of weekly benefits, medical and hospital expenses and a range of other benefits to help the worker recover and return to work.

Workers compensation insurance can also provide:

• domestic assistance
• new employment assistance payments
• education or training assistance payments
• property damage claims
• lump sum compensation for permanent impairment
• work break and journey claims
• hearing impairment claims
• uninsured employer claims
• exempt worker claims (by police officers, firefighters and paramedics)
• payments in the event of death.

Trained Professionals

Psychologists, counsellors and social workers help people improve their mental health and recover from an injury that has resulted from their work.

What is an APPROVED Workers Compensation Psychologist?

Psychologists who have completed training by SIRA with a SIRA or WorkCover number (this is not a Medicare provider number) they also must be AHPRA registered and insured.

What/Who is in the support team?

The team includes the employer, insurer case manager, doctor, a workplace rehabilitation provider (if required) and Psychologist. Each member has an important role to play in your recovery and these are outlined below.

What Psychologists do under WorkCover

Psychologists are trained to treat workers so they can achieve a safe and durable recovery to preinjury levels and/or return to work or to the best they will be able to achieve and are stable at that level.

As the Psychologist our primary objective is to support the worker to optimise their recovery and return to work. This is generally achieved through evidence‑based clinical intervention and management.

A Psychologists Role may involve:

• setting expectations from the first consultation regarding your recovery at/return to work, active participation in recovery, planning and treatment
• conducting a detailed assessment and (where applicable) providing information to inform and/or confirm diagnosis and treatment strategies. Where a diagnosis is not clear, providing a provisional diagnosis and explaining our reason(s) for this to either you or the Insurance company involved
• obtaining information from the insurer and/or your employer through a rehabilitation provider to assist with goal setting and tailoring of treatment interventions
• providing information to the support team (Insurance and Rehabilitation Case Managers) regarding your progress and capacity for work
• educating all parties about the health benefits of good work
• improving your independence and participation in your home and community if recovery at work is not possible.

Clear communication and collaboration with others in the support team is essential to:

• understand your capacity, needs and strengths
• identify any barriers or risks to recovery and effective strategies to address these issues/barriers
• develop shared goals and recovery expectations
• ensure the you receive consistent messages from team members
• ensure the right services are provided at the right time.
• Issues may arise during the life your claim that the Psychologist might wish to discuss with members of the support team.
  • Some examples include, but are not limited to:
    • if you are repeatedly late or does not attend appointment(s)
    • if the Psychologist feels a referral to a specialist, workplace rehabilitation provider or independent consultant is appropriate
    • if the doctor wants the Psychologist to continue treatment and the Psychologist doesn’t consider further treatment for the compensatable injury would be of any benefit to you.
    • if the doctor is a barrier to upgrading you or is delaying the process
    • if your assessment of work capacity differs from what the doctor has certified
    • if the you need to be directed to an alternate allied health practitioner for any reason, this would also be discussed with you where practicable
    • if the you have been certified for pre-injury duties but your Psychologist believes you will require ongoing treatment for a brief period to remain at work.

Note: A Psychologists role within the Workers Compensation System does not include advocating for the worker in relation to the management of their claim, litigation or other compensation processes.