Updates to version 2 of the Workers Compensation Guidelines for the Approval of Treating Allied Health Providers
The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) regularly reviews and updates the Workers Compensation Guidelines for the approval of treating allied health providers (the Guidelines) to ensure the Workers Compensation scheme is functioning optimally and that it continues to support the objectives of the Workers Compensation Act 1987.
This summary of changes table outlines what has changed from the previous version (version 1) of the Guidelines and the rationale for the proposed changes.
| Amended Clause (version 2) | Amendment | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Workers compensation guidelines for approval of treating allied health practitioners | Workers compensation guidelines for the approval of treating allied health practitioners | Title of the Guidelines on the website differs from the gazetted Guidelines. |
| 1.1 Purpose | The Workers Compensation Guidelines for the Approval of Treating Allied Health Practitioners (the Guidelines) apply to treating allied health practitioners working within the NSW workers compensation system who require approval by SIRA and outline the requirements to be appropriately qualified for the purpose of providing allied health treatment or services. | The guidelines do not apply to all allied health practitioners, only those who require SIRA approval. |
| 1.4 Commencement | These Guidelines commence on 22 February 2024 and will apply until SIRA amends, revokes, or replaces them in whole or in part. These Guidelines replace the Workers Compensation Guidelines for the Approval of Treating Allied Health Practitioners published in May 2021 | |
| 1.5 Transitional arrangements for practitioners with current SIRA approval | New heading: 1.5 Practitioners with current SIRA approval continue to be approved | As the transition from the 2016 Guidelines to the 2021 Guidelines has been completed, text about that transition has been deleted and the section reworked to focus on clarifying that the updating of the guidelines has no impact on practitioners who are already approved. |
| 1.5 Transitional arrangements for practitioners with current SIRA approval. | New content: All approved practitioners with an active approval number listed on the SIRA website at the date of commencement of this version of the Guidelines continue to be approved practitioners under these Guidelines, with the same approval period. | Same as above. |
| 2.2 Conditions of approval for treating allied health practitioners Subclause 2.2.1 | Have the appropriate qualifications for allied health practitioners as outlined in clauses 2.1 of these Guidelines | The correct clause to be referenced here is Clause 2.1, which is about appropriate qualifications for practitioners. |
| Clause 2.3 Grounds for declinature of approval of a treating allied health practitioner | Failure to comply with the conditions outlined in clause 2.2 may result in SIRA declining the application for approval/reapproval | The correct clause to be reference here is Clause 2.2 as it relates to conditions of approval for treating allied health practitioners. |
| Clause 2.4 Grounds for suspension or revocation of approval of a treating allied health practitioner | SIRA may suspend or revoke a treating allied health practitioner’s approval during their period of approval for any non-compliance with the legislation and/or conditions of approval in clause 2.2. | The correct clause to be referenced here is Clause 2.2 as it relates to conditions for approval of a treating allied health practitioner. |
| Appendix 1 | ||
| 3. Timing and notification of a SIRA decision to suspend or revoke approval | If an approved practitioner’s SIRA approval is suspended or revoked for reasons other than those set out in clause 2.4, the suspension or revocation will take effect 28 calendar days from when the practitioner is advised of SIRA’s decision by email. | The correct clause to be referenced here is 2.4 as it relates to grounds for suspension or revocation of approval of a treating allied health practitioner. |