Workers compensation

Physiotherapists help people affected by injury, illness or disability through various approaches including manual therapy, movement, functional exercise, education, and advice. They use physical techniques to improve function, reduce pain for the purpose of increasing a worker’s capacity for employment and guide workers to transition to a self-managed exercise program.

Guidelines for the provision of relevant services have been published

SIRA has published the Guidelines for the Provision of Relevant Services (Health and Related Services), which apply to relevant service providers providing services in the NSW workers compensation and CTP (for accidents on or after 1 December 2017) schemes.

The following sections of the guidelines apply to physiotherapists providing relevant services in the workers compensation scheme:

This webpage has been updated to include content from the Guidelines and the associated legislation.

In brief

Physiotherapists are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and approved by us to deliver treatment and facilitate a safe and durable recovery at work.

Physiotherapists must be approved by us (issued a SIRA practitioner number) to deliver treatment services in the NSW workers compensation scheme. The workers compensation guidelines for the approval of treating allied health practitioners provide information on the approval process and outline the conditions of approval practitioners must meet and maintain.

Please read this information on the Allied Health Recovery Request (AHRR) before you use this form for the first time. All SIRA approved physiotherapists must submit an AHRR when seeking pre-approval for treatment services.

A workers compensation guide for allied health practitioners provides essential information regarding the delivery of treatment services in the NSW workers compensation scheme.

The physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy fees and practice requirements provides additional information on how the claims process works, and what type of payments and expenses may be available.

You might need to know about the certificate of capacity/certificate of fitness for treating physiotherapist or psychologist.

Refer to the Guidelines for the Provision of Relevant Services (Health and Related Services) for the specific provisions that allied health providers, including physiotherapists, must comply with.

Forms you might need

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
Application for SIRA Workers Compensation approval (interactive version)
Certificate of capacity/certificate of fitness for treating physiotherapist or psychologist

Publications you might need

Fees and invoicing

Get treatment approval first

If the insurer denies liability, or declines a treatment request because it does not meet 'reasonably necessary' criteria, the insurer is not responsible for payment of accounts.

So before treating your patient please confirm they have submitted a workers compensation claim, and that you have approval from the insurer to start treatment.

The fees orders provide a maximum fee for services provided to a worker. You cannot exceed the maximum fees stated in the Fees Order.

All fees you can charge are listed in the relevant fee order below:

Current health-related fees

These are the current health related fees and rates orders.

Historical health-related fees

These are the historical health related fees and rates orders.

Fees and rates orders 2024

Massage Therapy Fees Order (effective 1 February 2024)

Fees and rates orders 2023

Fees and rates orders 2022

Fees and rates orders 2021

Fees and rates orders 2020

Fees and rates orders 2019

Fees and rates orders 2018

Fees and rates orders 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 will need to include

SIRA requires medical practitioners and other service providers to provide itemised invoices before payment can be made by the insurer.

Invoices for relevant services rendered must include:

the injured worker’s first and last name, and claim number
payee name, address, telephone number and email address
payee Australian Business Number (ABN)
name of the relevant service provider who delivered the relevant service
in the case of allied health services, the following provider numbers:
- the provider’s SIRA approval number (where applicable), and
- the provider’s AHPRA number/professional association accreditation/membership number
- in the case of allied health services provided interstate by a service provider who doesn’t have a SIRA approval number, the service provider number INT0000 must be included on the invoice instead
- in the case of allied health services provided to exempt workers, by a service provider who doesn’t have a SIRA approval number, the service provider number EXT0000 must be included on the invoice instead.
relevant SIRA payment classification code
service cost for each SIRA payment classification code
date of service
date of invoice (must be on the day of or after last date of service listed on the invoice).

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

Send your invoices to the worker’s insurer.

Do I need a SIRA provider number?

Yes. If you're a physiotherapist you must have a SIRA provider number to provide treatment services to workers in the NSW workers compensation system.

Did you know? All allied health practitioners formerly approved by WorkCover NSW are now deemed to be approved by SIRA. Their provider number remains the same.

The SIRA provider number is specific to the allied health practitioner and must be provided on all tax invoices and requests to the insurer. Services must not be delivered by any other person using the allied health practitioner's provider number.

You are not required to obtain a new provider number for each different location where you deliver services or if you change your employment. However, you must notify SIRA of any change in you contact details within 14 days by email to [email protected]

How do I get a SIRA provider number?

Review the guideline for approval of treating allied health practitioners and then complete the application form

If you meet the appropriate qualifications and requirements, you must satisfactorily complete the three-part allied health practitioner online training course. This is to ensure all practitioners working within the NSW workers compensation scheme are:

appropriately skilled to help workers achieve a safe and durable recovery at/return to work, and
aware of requirements for the delivery of services in the scheme.

The online training program is administered by the Personal Injury Education Foundation (PIEF). Access the training via the SIRA AHP NSW Learning Portal.

Once you have successfully completed the online training, you download and complete the application form and submit with all relevant documents to [email protected]

Please note: you must obtain confirmation from us that your SIRA provider number is active before delivering treatment services.

Further information

Independent consultants (peer reviews)

Independent consultants listed on SIRA's website provide independent peer review of, and advice, to allied health practitioners regarding injury management.

If you would like the assistance of an independent consultant visit independent consultants.

Where required, you must participate in a review by an independent consultant as outlined in the guideline for approval of treating allied health practitioners.

Provider/assessor search

You can find a workers compensation provider/assessor here.