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:
- the insurer
- the allied health practitioner
- 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
- Independent consultant referral form
- Allied health recovery request (interactive version) is used to request treatment services
- Allied health recovery request (word version) if your computer can't open up the interactive version
Publications you might need
- Workers compensation guide for allied health practitioners
- Clinical framework for the delivery of health services
- SIRA workers compensation guideline for approval of treating allied health practitioners
- Workers compensation guidelines
Fees and invoicing
Independent consultants have the cost of their services paid by the insurer (as a claims cost). Fees are outlined below:
Current health-related fees
These are the current health related fees and rates orders.
- Accredited Exercise Physiology fees order No 3 (effective 17 April 2020)
- Hearing Aid fees and practice requirements (effective 1 January 2021)
- Independent Consultant fees order No 3 (effective 17 April 2020)
- Injury Management Consultant fees order No 2 (effective 17 April 2020)
- Massage Therapy fees order (effective 1 January 2021)
- Medical Examinations and Reports fees order No.2 (effective 17 April 2020)
- Medical Practitioners fees order (effective 1 January 2021)
- Orthopaedic Surgeon fees order (effective 1 January 2021)
- Physiotherapy, Chiropractic and Osteopathy fees and practice requirements (effective 1 January 2021)
- Psychology and Counselling fees and practice requirements (effective 1 January 2021)
- Surgeon fees order (effective 1 January 2021)
- Private Hospital Maximum rates fee order (2020) (effective 1 April 2020)
- SIRA rates for General Practitioners 2021 (effective 1 January 2021)
- SIRA telehealth item numbers for medical practitioners 2021
- 2020 Public Hospital Fees Schedule (effective 1 July 2020)
- Workers compensation (ambulance service fees) order 2020 (effective 11 September 2020)
- Workers compensation (public hospital rates) order 2020 (effective 1 July 2020)
Historical health-related fees
These are the historical health related fees and rates orders.
Fees and rates orders 2020
- Fees Order 2020 - Accredited Exercise Physiology
- Fees Order 2020 - Accredited Exercise Physiology No 2
- Fees Order 2020 - Hearing Aid
- Fees Order 2020 - Hearing Aid No 2 effective 17 April 2020
- Fees Order 2020 - Independent Consultant
- Fees Order 2020 - Independent Consultant No 2
- Fees Order 2020 - Injury Management Consultant
- Fees Order 2020 - Massage Therapy
- Fees Order 2020 - Medical Examinations and Reports
- Fees Order 2020 - Medical Practitioners
- Fees Order 2020 - Medical Practitioners No 2
- Fees Order 2020 - Medical Practitioners No 3 effective 17 April 2020
- Fees Order 2020 - Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Fees Order 2020 - Orthopaedic Surgeon No 2 effective 17 April 2020
- Fees Order 2020 - Physiotherapy, Chiropractic and Osteopathy
- Fees Order 2020 - Physiotherapy, Chiropractic and Osteopathy No 2
- Fees Order 2020 - Physiotherapy, Chiropractic and Osteopathy No 3 effective 17 April 2020
- Fees Order 2020 - Psychology and Counselling
- Fees Order 2020 - Psychology and Counselling No 2
- Fees Order 2020 - Psychology and Counselling No 3 effective 17 April 2020
- Fees Order 2020 - Surgeon Fees Order
- Fees Order 2020 - Surgeon Fees Order No 2 effective 17 April 2020
- SIRA rates for General Practitioners 2020
Fees and rates orders 2019
- Fees Order 2019 - Accredited Exercise Physiology
- Fees Order 2019 - Hearing Aid
- Fees Order 2019 -Private Hospital Fee Order
- Fees Order 2019 - Independent Consultant
- Fees Order 2019 - Injury Management Consultant
- Fees Order 2019 - Massage Therapy
- Fees Order 2019 - Medical Examinations and Reports, No. 2
- Fees Order 2019 - Medical Examinations and Reports
- Fees Order 2019 - Medical Practitioners
- SIRA 2019 workers compensation rates for general practitioners
- Fees Order 2019 - Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Fees Order 2019 - Physiotherapy, Chiropractic and Osteopathy
- Fees Order 2019 - Psychology and Counselling
- Fees Order 2019 - Surgeon Fees Order
- 2019 Private Hospital Fees Schedule
- 2019 Public Hospital Fees Schedule
- Workers compensation (public hospital rates) order 2019
Fees and rates orders 2018
- Ambulance fees schedule 2018
- Fees order 2018 - accredited exercise physiology
- Fees order 2018 - hearing aids
- Fees order 2018 - independent consultants
- Fees order 2018 - injury management consultants
- Fees order 2018 - massage therapy
- Fees order 2018 - medical examinations and reports
- Fees order 2018 - medical practitioner
- Fees order 2018 - orthopaedic surgeon
- Fees order 2018 - physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy
- Fees order 2018 - psychology and counselling
- Fees order 2018 - surgeon
- Public hospital fees schedule 2018
- Private hospital fees schedule 2018
- SIRA rates for general practitioners 2018
- Workers compensation (private hospital rates) order 2018
- Workers compensation (public hospital rates) order 2018
- Workers compensation (ambulance services fees) order 2018
Fees and rates orders 2017
- Fees order 2017 - accredited exercise physiology
- Fees order 2017 - hearing aids
- Fees order 2017 - independent consultants
- Fees order 2017 - injury management consultants
- Fees order 2017 - massage therapy
- Fees order 2017 - medical examinations and reports
- Fees order 2017 - medical practitioner
- Fees order 2017 - orthopaedic surgeon
- Fees order 2017 - physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy
- Fees order 2017 - psychology and counselling
- Fees order 2017 - surgeon
- SIRA rates for general practitioners 2017
- Workers compensation (ambulance services fees) order 2017
- Workers compensation (ambulance services fees) order 2017 no2
- Workers compensation (private hospital rates) order 2017
- Workers compensation (public hospital rates) order 2017
- Workers compensation (public hospital rates) order 2017 no2
- Workers compensation rates for general practitioners 2017
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
- Dr Henry Pollard
84 Kingsway
CRONULLA NSW 2230
Phone: (02) 9523 4600
Email: hpollard@optushome.com.au - Mr Andrew Ware
22 Zelang Avenue
FIGTREE NSW 2525
Phone: (02) 4229 2855
Fax: (02) 4225 3663
Email: figtreechiropractic@iinet.net.au
Also at:
Dymocks Building
Suite 12, Level 10
428 George Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 4229 2855
Fax: (02) 4225 3633
Email: figtreechiropractic@iinet.net.au
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
- Sydney region
- ACT region
- Bathurst region
- Central Coast region
- Central West region
- Hornsby region
- Newcastle region
- 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 - 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
- John Roberts
45 Mitre Street
PO Box 1487
BATHURST NSW 2795
Phone: (02) 6332 1955
Fax: (02) 6332 1122
Email: physio@bathurstphysio.com.au
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: 0407 230 477 or 0409 230 994
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: thomas@thomasoneill.com.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.