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Independent consultants

Independent consultants provide independent peer review of allied health practitioner (physical or psychological) treatment in the NSW workers compensation system.

In brief

An independent consultant is an allied health practitioner approved by SIRA to provide an independent peer review of allied health practitioner treatment in the NSW workers compensation system.

All independent consultants must be experienced in the assessment, treatment and management of work related injuries and approved by SIRA. They are also required to abide by our conditions of approval.

As an independent consultant, you may be called upon to provide an independent opinion and/or expert advice regarding:

  • the treatment duration, frequency and/or whether treatment is reasonably necessary
  • treatment that has continued for an extended period without any improvement in functional outcomes, particularly in relation to the worker’s capacity
  • the treatment approach most likely to achieve positive work outcomes for the worker
  • barriers to recovery at work and/or psychosocial risk factors for delayed recovery and work loss.

You may receive a referral for peer review at the request of:

  1. the insurer
  2. the allied health practitioner
  3. another member of the support team.

Regardless of who requests your involvement, you will be engaged by the insurer via the independent consultant referral form.

Reviewing physical treatment

An independent consultant reviewing physical treatment must be a registered:

  • physiotherapist
  • chiropractor
  • osteopath.

Reviewing psychological treatment

An independent consultant reviewing psychological treatment must be a registered psychologist.

Forms you might need

Publications you might need

Fees and invoicing

Independent consultants have the cost of their services paid by the insurer (as a claims cost). Fees are outlined in the fees orders below:

When invoicing, we have a payment system that requires itemised invoices. This system enables consistent data collection from service providers and insurers and ensures accurate payments.

What your invoices need to include

  • worker's first and last name, and claim number
  • payee details
  • ABN
  • name of the medical practitioner or service provider who provided the service
  • SIRA workers compensation approval number or medical practitioner's Health Insurance Commission provider number (where applicable)
  • date of service
  • SIRA workers compensation payment classification code or AMA item number where applicable. Refer to Workers compensation insurer data reporting requirements
  • service cost for each SIRA workers compensation payment classification code or AMA item number and service duration (if applicable)
  • date of invoice (must be on the day of or after last date of service listed on the invoice)

To prevent delays in payment, these details will need to be provided on all invoices.

Invoices should be submitted within 30 calendar days of the service being provided.

Send your invoices to the worker’s insurer.

Find an independent consultant

Chiropractic independent consultants

Call us on 13 10 50 for more information about chiropractic independent consultants.

Osteopathy independent consultants

1. Sydney region

  • Louise Adam
    Hunter Health
    803/5 Hunter Street,
    Sydney NSW 2000
    Postal address:
    PO Box 115 
    Jamberoo NSW 2533
    Phone: 0413 832 223
    Email: louiseadam@yahoo.com
  • Peter Baziotis
    Practice of Dr Mark Vic
    77 Bondi Road
    Bondi NSW 2026
    Phone: 0411 888 797
    Email: an.osteopath@optusnet.com.au

2. South coast region

  • Louise Adam
    BaiMed Kiama
    15/3 Brown Street
    KIAMA NSW 2533
    Postal address:
    PO Box 115 
    Jamberoo NSW 2533
    Phone: 0413 832 223
    Email: louiseadam@yahoo.com

3. Central coast region

  • Peter Baziotis
    482 Glebe Rd
    Adamstown, NSW 2289
    Phone: (02) 9317 3300
    Fax: (02) 9317 3304
    Email: an.osteopath@optusnet.com.au
    (Tuesday afternoons, with two to three weeks notice)

Call us on 13 10 50 for more information about osteopathy independent consultants.

Physiotherapy independent consultants

  1. Sydney region
  2. ACT region
  3. Bathurst region
  4. Central Coast region
  5. Central West region
  6. Hornsby region
  7. Newcastle region
  8. New England region

1. Sydney region

  • Dr Rob Boland PhD
    Sydney Spine Institute
    Suite 107, 3 Railway Parade
    BURWOOD NSW 2134
    Phone: 0438 467 043
    Email: robert.boland@sydney.edu.au
    Correspondence to:
    PO Box 3050
    REGENTS PARK NSW 2143
  • Denise Gardner
    The Waters Road Practice
    3-5 Waters Rd
    NEUTRAL BAY NSW 2089
    Phone: 0409 533 234
    Correspondence to: 
    PO Box 4116
    BALGOWLAH HEIGHTS 2093
  • Andrew Leaver
    3rd Floor, 20 Macquarie Street
    PARRAMATTA NSW 2150
    Correspondence to:
    PO Box KL727
    KINGS LANGLEY NSW 2147
    Phone: 0407 212 625
    Email: admin@alabconsultants.com
  • Gaetano Milazzo
    Suite 1, Level 1, 150 Lindesay Street
    CAMPBELLTOWN NSW 2560
    Phone: (02) 4627 8222
    Fax: (02) 4627 8244
    Correspondence to:
    PO Box 844
    THIRROUL NSW 2515
    Email: gaetano@milazzopt.com.au
  • Michael Ryan
    Sydney Specialist Physiotherapy Centre
    Level 1, 50 York Street
    SYDNEY NSW 2000
    Phone: (02) 9299 0700
    Email: m.ryan@specialistphysio.net.au
  • St Georges Physiotherapy
    6/637 Princes Highway
    BLAKEHURST NSW 2221
    Phone: (02) 9821 2233
    Fax: (02) 9601 7416
    Email: pm@physiopinion.com
  • Gaven Williams
    150 Lindesay Street
    CAMPBELLTOWN NSW 2560
    Correspondence to:
    PO Box 654
    CAMPBELLTOWN NSW 2560
    Phone: (02) 4628 0026
    Fax: (02) 4628 9692

2. ACT region

  • Toni Green
    (special interest in foot and ankle injuries)
    ACT Sports Physicians
    Suite 5, Cnr King and Denison Streets
    DEAKIN ACT 2600
    Correspondence to:
    PO Box 5217
    LYNEHAM ACT 2602
    Mobile: 0409 624 736
    Email: footandanklephysiotherapy@gmail.com

3. Bathurst region

4. Central Coast region

  • Michael Ward
    Coastal Physiotherapy Clinic
    Gosford Private Hospital
    Burrabil Ave
    NORTH GOSFORD  2250
    Phone: (02) 4324 8081
    Email: michaelwardipc@gmail.com
  • John Silcock
    Physiotherapy Department
    Wyoming Medical and Dental
    Corner Pacific Highway & Kinarra Avenue
    WYOMING NSW 2250
    Mobile: 0408 602 063
    Email: john.silcock@gmail.com

5. Central West region

  • Michael Ryan
    Central West Specialists
    Level 1, 131 – 135 Summer Street
    ORANGE NSW 2800
    Correspondence to:
    Sydney Specialist Physiotherapy Centre
    Level 1, 50 York Street
    SYDNEY NSW 2000
    Phone: (02) 9299 0700
    Email: m.ryan@specialistphysio.net.au
  • John Roberts
    45 Mitre Street 
    PO Box 1487
    BATHURST NSW 2795
    Phone: (02) 6332 1955
    Fax: (02) 6332 1122
    Email: physio@bathurstphysio.com.au

6. Hornsby region

  • Gillian Summerbell
    PO Box 1519
    HORNSBY NSW 2077
    Phone: (02) 9477 1113
  • David Young
    Pennant Hills Physiotherapy Centre
    2/374 Pennant Hills Road
    PENNANT HILLS NSW 2120
    Phone: (02) 9484 6300
    Fax: (02) 9484 6213
    Email: young123@bigpond.net.au

7. Newcastle region

  • David Elvish
    Hunter Specialist Medical Centre
    91 Chatham Street
    BROADMEADOW NSW 2292
    Email: davide@workplacephysio.com
    Phone: (02) 4985 1808
    Fax: (02) 4940 0322
    Mobile: 0407 295 966
    Also available at:
    Coffs Habour
    Port Macquarie
    Taree
  • Lisa MacPherson
    91 Chatham Street
    BROADMEADOW NSW 2292
    Phone: (02) 4985 1808
    Fax: (02) 4940 0322
    Email: lisam@workplacephysio.com

8. New England region

  • John Silcock
    IPAR
    Suite 2/1A Bligh Street
    TAMWORTH NSW 2340
    Postal address:
    264 Glenrock Parade
    TASCOTT NSW 2250
    Mobile: 0408 602 063
    Email: John.silcock@gmail.com

Call SIRA on 13 10 50 for more information about physiotherapy independent consultants.

Psychology and counselling independent consultants

  • Dr Terry Kohler
    15 Henry Kendall Street
    West Gosford NSW 2250
    Phone: (02) 4307 8146
    Fax: (02) 4324 9816
    Email: terry@apsych.com.au
  • Thomas O'Neill
    Level 5, Edgecliff Centre
    203–233 New South Head Road
    Edgecliff NSW 2027
    Phone: (02) 9362 0386
    Fax: (02) 9362 0767
    Email: thomasoneill@smartchat.net.au
  • Dr Margaret Tadros, PhD
    Suite 43, The Italian Forum
    23 Norton Street
    Leichhardt NSW 2040
    Phone: (02) 8321 9888
    Fax: (02) 8321 8816
    Email: margaret-tadros@netspace.net.au

Call us on 13 10 50 for more information about psychology and counselling.

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