PTSD from a Workplace Incident? We Can Help.
Confidential same-day telehealth consultation. Certificate of Capacity issued during the call. $0 cost with a valid claim number.
PTSD and Workers Compensation in NSW
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event in the workplace. Workers in high-risk occupations — including first responders (police, paramedics, firefighters), healthcare workers, defence personnel, transport workers, and retail and hospitality workers exposed to violence — are at significantly elevated risk.
Under the NSW workers compensation scheme, PTSD is a compensable psychological injury when employment is the main contributing factor. Unlike some other psychological injury claims, PTSD arising from a specific traumatic event is generally not subject to the Section 11A reasonable management action exclusion, because traumatic exposure is not a management action.
Workplace Situations That Can Cause PTSD
- Witnessing or being involved in a death or serious injury at work
- Physical assault, armed robbery, or violent threats in the workplace
- Exposure to repeated traumatic events (first responders, emergency department staff)
- Serious workplace accident — explosion, building collapse, vehicle crash
- Threats to personal safety — lone workers, late-night retail, taxi drivers
- Secondary or vicarious trauma from managing distressing cases (social workers, counsellors, child protection officers)
Symptoms Your Doctor Will Assess
What Your Certificate Will Include
For PTSD claims, your Certificate of Capacity will typically document:
- Your presenting symptoms and their relationship to the workplace incident
- Current work capacity — many PTSD patients initially have no capacity for any work, particularly if returning to the same workplace would trigger symptoms
- Restrictions on exposure to triggering environments, situations, or individuals
- Referral for specialist psychological treatment — trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), EMDR, or psychiatric assessment
- Expected review period — PTSD recovery varies significantly; initial certificates may be for 7–14 days with gradual extension as treatment progresses
First Responder Presumptive Legislation
In NSW, certain first responders (police, firefighters, paramedics, emergency workers) benefit from presumptive legislation that assumes their PTSD is work-related unless proven otherwise. This reverses the usual burden of proof for these occupations. Your Claims Doctor consultation can guide you through how this applies to your specific situation.
How Claims Doctor Helps
Claims Doctor provides confidential, same-day video consultations for PTSD. Your doctor will assess your symptoms, discuss the traumatic event and its impact on your work capacity, complete your Certificate of Capacity during the call, and arrange referrals for specialist trauma-focused treatment. Consulting from home means you avoid the stress of attending a clinic.
PTSD from a Workplace Incident?
Confidential same-day consultation from home. Certificate issued during the call.
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