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What is a SIRA-approved psychologist?
The key point: SIRA approval is a provider requirement for specified allied health services in the NSW Workers Compensation Scheme. For psychologists, it sits alongside AHPRA registration. SIRA approval is not required to deliver psychological treatment in the NSW CTP scheme.
When you start looking for psychological treatment after a workplace or motor vehicle injury in NSW, you'll quickly come across the term "SIRA-approved." It sounds bureaucratic, but the idea behind it is simple, and worth understanding before you choose a provider.
Who SIRA is
SIRA stands for the State Insurance Regulatory Authority. It regulates the NSW Workers Compensation and Compulsory Third Party (CTP) schemes. The provider rules are not identical across the two schemes: SIRA approval is required for specified allied health practitioners, including psychologists, in Workers Compensation, while SIRA approval is not required to deliver treatment services in CTP.
What "SIRA-approved" means for a psychologist
A SIRA-approved psychologist is a registered psychologist who has completed SIRA's approval requirements to provide specified psychological treatment services in the NSW Workers Compensation Scheme. Approved practitioners must meet SIRA's qualification, training and practice requirements and work within the Workers Compensation rules for treatment, reporting and fees.
This is separate from, and in addition to, the psychologist's core registration with AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), which is what allows them to practise as a psychologist in the first place.
What about CTP?
The NSW CTP scheme uses a different provider framework. SIRA states that approval from SIRA is not required to deliver treatment services in CTP. A psychologist still needs to be appropriately qualified and registered, and ongoing treatment must meet the CTP scheme's requirements, including insurer approval where required.
When choosing a psychologist for a CTP claim, it is therefore more useful to consider AHPRA registration, experience with motor accident injuries and CTP processes, availability, and whether the therapeutic relationship feels like a good fit.
Frequently asked questions
A SIRA-approved psychologist is an AHPRA-registered psychologist who has SIRA approval to provide specified psychological treatment services in the NSW Workers Compensation Scheme. This provider approval is not required to deliver treatment in the NSW CTP scheme.
For specified psychology services in NSW Workers Compensation, the treating psychologist generally needs SIRA approval. The CTP scheme is different: SIRA approval is not required to deliver treatment services, although the psychologist must still be appropriately qualified and comply with CTP scheme requirements.
Yes. Matt Semsar is a Registered Psychologist (AHPRA: PSY0002620326) and SIRA-approved provider (No. 24705) for NSW Workers Compensation. Revamp Psychology also provides psychological treatment under the NSW CTP scheme, where SIRA provider approval is not required.
Scheme information reviewed: 20 August 2026.
Official information
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Written as general information for a NSW audience, not personal or clinical advice, this page can't reflect your individual case. Eligibility and funding depend on your individual claim and insurer approval, so check what applies to you with your treating doctor.