4.5.39 Psychology
4.5.39.1 Psychology services secondary to physical injury claims
Psychology services guidelines
The Psychology services guidelines provides information about:
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what costs WorkSafe will and will not pay for
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how much WorkSafe can pay
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who can provide psychology services
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accessing services and referral requirements
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service delivery expectations under the Clinical Framework for the delivery of health services
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reporting requirements of psychologists.
See: Psychology services guidelines | Clinical framework
See: 6.5 Provisional payments for a mental injury
Fee schedule
WorkSafe’s psychology services fee schedule outlines the range of psychology services available and the maximum amounts WorkSafe can pay.
See: Cost of services | Fee schedule and further information on Psychology
Service length
WorkSafe encourages psychologists to regularly review appropriate service length in line with the Clinical framework.
See: Clinical framework
30-minute services
A psychologist Registered psychologist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the psychology profession (other than as a student). may determine that 30 minute services are appropriate under some circumstances, such as when:
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a worker has returned to work
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a worker is increasing their independence
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access to services is problematic and shorter services could assist.
Services over 60 minutes
All services over 60 minutes must have clinical justification and prior approval from the Agent.
The Agent can approve up to 5 psychology services at a time between 60 and 90 minutes. Requests for additional services after the initial 5 requires a letter from the psychologist outlining progress and further clinical justification.
WorkSafe can pay for services over 60 minutes in the following circumstances:
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where longer sessions are clinically indicated for the delivery of some eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment, or exposure therapy at locations out of clinic, or attendance at worksites
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there is a need for psychometric tests that normally take longer than 60 minutes (the psychologist should provide the test results to the Agent)
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following a request from the psychologist, where the Agent agrees that longer psychology services are appropriate.
Providers requesting to deliver services over 60 minutes should:
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provide clinical justification in line with the Clinical Framework to the Agent before the first service; and
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receive Agent approval prior to the first service and after each subsequent 5 services; and
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request no more than 5 services before reviewing progress and requesting further services.
See: What WorkSafe will pay for in the Psychology services guidelines | Clinical framework
Reporting requirements of psychologists
WorkSafe expects psychologists to provide information to the Agent and treating medical practitioner to assist in the worker’s recovery.
WorkSafe expects psychologists to submit the below forms to the Agent to meet service expectations.
Psychology treatment planning form (PS604)
The Psychology treatment planning form assists providers and Agents to manage the worker’s treatment, recovery and return to work. WorkSafe expects psychologists to submit this form by the sixth service of treatment.
Psychologists must forward the form to the Agent and treating medical practitioner to:
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notify that treatment for the work-related An injury/disease is work related if it arose out of or in the course of employment and the scope of employment. injury has started
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explain the goals, strategies and proposed outcomes of treatment.
Note: Agents should request this form from the psychologist if they have not received it by the sixth service.
See: Psychology treatment planning form (PS604)
Psychology treatment review form (PS109)
WorkSafe requires psychologists to complete a Psychology treatment review form within the first 9 months of treatment. This form reflects the information and goals described in the treatment planning form and provides a format for reviewing progress with the plan.
Note: Agents or WorkSafe may request further treatment review forms to measure progress.
See: Psychology treatment review form (PS109)
4.5.39.1 Psychology services secondary to physical injury claims
First 13 weeks of treatment – provisional payments
WorkSafe can pay the reasonable costs of psychology services to treat a mental injury that has been claimed by a worker to have arisen because of their physical injury.
WorkSafe may only pay for these costs if the worker has an accepted claim for their physical injury, and at least one of the below situations applies:
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the worker has a physical injury as a result of a traumatic incident
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the worker is not coping with their physical injury
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attempts by the worker to return to work have been unsuccessful
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the worker has relationship issues outside of work as a result of their injury
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there are relationship issues between the worker and their employer despite interventions such as occupational rehabilitation and/or WorkSafe’s Return to Work (RTW Return to Work) inspectorate
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the worker requests treatment from a psychologist for their physical injury.
WorkSafe can pay these reasonable costs for a maximum of 13 weeks as a provisional payment without the need to determine liability for the mental injury. In order for WorkSafe to pay the costs of psychology services, it remains necessary for the services to be requested by a medical practitioner.
Once an Agent receives notice of a referral for psychology services, they should inform the requesting medical practitioner and mental health provider (where known) of the limited 13 weeks of treatment. The Agent requires a Psychology treatment planning form from a psychologist for any claim where psychology services are required beyond 4 services.
See: Cost of services | Fee schedule and further information on Psychology
More than 13 weeks of treatment required
For secondary mental injuries sustained before 31 March 2024
If it appears the worker will need more than the 13 weeks of treatment, the provider of the ongoing services should advise the Agent in writing as soon as possible (and no later than week 10). Please note that a Psychology treatment planning form should have already been completed for any claim where psychology services are intended to continue beyond 13 weeks. This requirement reduces the likelihood of a worker reaching 13 weeks and being unable to access further services while liability for ongoing services is being assessed.
The Psychology treatment planning form allows for the indication of ‘medium’ and ‘long term’ estimated duration - further written confirmation at the 10 week mark to support this initial estimate would be advisable. The Agent may request confirmation that this initial estimate of required services is still relevant for the worker’s treatment needs.
The Agent is required to assess whether the worker has a secondary mental injury which provides any entitlements under their physical injury claim.
If the Agent is unable to determine the appropriateness of additional psychology services beyond 13 weeks following engagement with the psychologist, they may request the worker be independently assessed by an Independent Medical Examiner (psychiatrist). All relevant information should be provided to the Independent Medical Examiner (IME Independent Medical Examiner / Independent Medical Examination) to assist with the examination.
For mental injuries sustained on or after 31 March 2024
A worker will only be entitled to ongoing psychology services beyond 13 weeks if they meet the mental injury definition in the WIRC Act Workplace Injury Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 2013. The worker or their treating medical practitioner(s) will have provided evidence of both:
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a diagnosis in accordance with the latest version of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and
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significant behavioural, cognitive or psychological dysfunction.
The Agent can only seek this information from the worker’s medical practitioner and preferably the treating psychiatrist where one has been engaged (noting that a psychologist cannot provide a DSM diagnosis).
If the Agent is unable to determine whether the mental injury definition has been met, they may request the worker be independently assessed by an IME (psychiatrist). All relevant information should be provided to IME to assist with the examination.