The number needed for care
Your psychologist recommends a plan after assessing the situation and discussing your goals. They review it with you as treatment progresses. Some people need a change in approach, further assessment or input from another service.
A website cannot predict the number of sessions you will need. Nor does a particular diagnosis guarantee a fixed course of treatment.
The number approved for funding
Check the insurer's written approval for the service, provider, session number, dates and conditions. That tells you what has been approved at that point, not necessarily the full amount of treatment you may ever need.
If more care is recommended, a further treatment request may be needed. An AHTR asks for funding; it does not grant it.
Initial sessions and exceptions
From 1 October 2026, the NSW guidelines allow up to four consultations without prior insurer approval in certain circumstances. For the initial-treatment exception, care must start within three months of the injury, and a provider from the same allied health practitioner group must not have treated it previously. The practitioner must meet the approval requirements.
This is not four automatically free appointments, a yearly allowance or a total treatment cap. Different rules apply to later treatment, a change of practitioner and existing approval. Our team checks your circumstances before a funded appointment.
Read the current SIRA approval rulesIt is not the Medicare annual allowance
WorkCover and Medicare are different funding pathways. Do not assume that a Medicare annual limit is your WorkCover entitlement or that a Mental Health Treatment Plan authorises an insurer-funded appointment.
Any change of funding needs to be discussed in advance. The same service must not be billed to two payers.
When approved sessions are nearly used
Ask your psychologist whether a further request is needed and check the next appointment's funding with the team. Discuss any gaps or changes in care with your treating doctor.
If funding is not approved, we will explain any private fee before you agree to proceed. Reimbursement by an insurer should never be assumed.
Understand treatment requestsWorkers compensation guidelines / SIRA treatment and approval changes from 1 October 2026 / Allied Health Treatment Requests
Information checked 13 October 2026. General information, not an assessment or a decision about your claim.
