Work-Related Stress and Anxiety? We Can Help.
Same-day telehealth consultation for psychological injuries. Certificate of Capacity issued during the call. Confidential and private.
Psychological Injuries and Workers Compensation in NSW
Psychological injuries are the fastest-growing category of workers compensation claims in Australia. According to Safe Work Australia, work-related mental health conditions result in significantly longer time off work and higher claim costs than physical injuries — with a median time lost of 34.2 working weeks compared to 6.3 weeks for physical injuries.
Under the NSW workers compensation scheme, work-related stress, anxiety, and depression are compensable injuries if your employment was the main contributing factor to your condition. This means your work must be more than 50% responsible for the development of your psychological injury.
Conditions Covered
Common Workplace Causes
- Excessive workload, unrealistic deadlines, and sustained high-pressure expectations
- Workplace bullying, harassment, or intimidation (by managers, colleagues, or clients)
- Exposure to traumatic events — first responders, healthcare workers, emergency services
- Organisational change, restructuring, redundancy threats, or job insecurity
- Lack of support, isolation, or exclusion from workplace activities
- Shift work, long hours, and poor work-life balance imposed by employer demands
Section 11A Exclusion — Important to Understand
Section 11A of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 excludes psychological injuries caused by reasonable management actions carried out in a reasonable manner. This includes performance management, disciplinary proceedings, transfers, demotions, and redundancies. However, the exclusion only applies if the employer's actions were both reasonable in substance and carried out in a reasonable manner. If the management action was unreasonable, or was carried out unreasonably, the exclusion does not apply and your claim may still succeed.
What Your Certificate Will Include
For psychological injury claims, your Certificate of Capacity will document your current mental health condition, its relationship to your work, and your capacity for work. Common restrictions and recommendations include:
- No capacity for pre-injury duties — particularly if return to the same workplace would aggravate your condition
- Reduced hours (e.g. 3–4 hours per day) with a gradual increase over time
- No contact with specific individuals or situations that trigger symptoms
- Modified duties that reduce exposure to the stressors causing your condition
- Referral for psychological treatment — clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or counsellor
Why Telehealth Works for Psychological Injuries
For many people suffering work-related stress and anxiety, the prospect of travelling to a GP clinic, sitting in a waiting room, and explaining their situation face-to-face is itself a barrier to seeking help. Telehealth removes this barrier. You consult from the privacy and comfort of your home, at a time that suits you, with a doctor who understands both the clinical and administrative aspects of psychological injury claims.
How Claims Doctor Helps
Claims Doctor provides same-day, confidential video consultations for work-related psychological injuries. Your doctor will assess your condition, discuss your symptoms and their relationship to your work, complete your Certificate of Capacity, and arrange referrals for psychological treatment — all in a single appointment. $0 cost with a valid claim number.
Work-Related Stress or Anxiety?
Confidential same-day video consultation. Certificate issued during the call.
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