Frequently asked questions

Often, yes. If you were injured in a motor accident in NSW, treatment and care (which can include seeing a registered psychologist) may be funded through the at-fault vehicle's CTP insurer. For the first 26 weeks after the accident, treatment and care benefits are available regardless of who was at fault. Confirm the arrangements for your claim with your insurer.

Source: State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), guide for people injured in motor accidents in NSW, and the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW). Confirm current rules with SIRA or your insurer.

Not for the first 26 weeks. Treatment and care benefits, including psychology, are available regardless of fault for the first 26 weeks after the accident. After 26 weeks, continuing entitlement can depend on the injury category and on not being mostly at fault. If your situation is complex, a free legal service can help.

Source: State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), guide for people injured in motor accidents in NSW, and the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW). Confirm current rules with SIRA or your insurer.

For sessions the insurer has approved under your CTP claim, the insurer usually pays the psychologist directly, so your out-of-pocket cost for approved sessions is typically nil. Always confirm the billing arrangement with the psychologist and your insurer before you start, since approval needs to be in place first.

Source: State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), guide for people injured in motor accidents in NSW, and the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW). Confirm current rules with SIRA or your insurer.

Both schemes are regulated by SIRA and both can fund psychology, but they cover different events. Workers compensation covers work-related injury; CTP covers injury from a motor vehicle accident. If you were hurt in a crash on the way to or from work, which scheme applies can be complex, so it is worth getting advice. This directory focuses on motor accident (CTP) psychology.

Source: State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), guide for people injured in motor accidents in NSW, and the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW). Confirm current rules with SIRA or your insurer.

Telehealth psychology can be available under CTP claims, and it is often helpful after an accident if driving or travelling feels difficult. Many of the psychologists in this directory offer video or phone sessions across NSW. Confirm telehealth availability with the psychologist and that your insurer approves it for your claim.

Source: State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), guide for people injured in motor accidents in NSW, and the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW). Confirm current rules with SIRA or your insurer.

You generally do not need a formal referral just to see a psychologist, but seeing your GP early helps: your GP can document how the accident has affected you and recommend a psychologist, and the insurer usually approves a course of sessions requested by the psychologist. See the guide on referrals for the full picture.

Source: State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), guide for people injured in motor accidents in NSW, and the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW). Confirm current rules with SIRA or your insurer.

This is an independent directory and information resource, not a psychology practice, a legal service, or a crisis service. It lists SIRA-experienced psychologists in NSW by region and explains how the motor accident scheme funds treatment. Because motor accident (CTP) work is arranged practitioner by practitioner, always confirm that a psychologist accepts CTP clients when you contact them.

Yes, using this directory and asking us to help you find a psychologist is free, with no obligation and no cost to you. Your details are only used to help connect you with a psychologist, and are handled in line with the privacy policy. We never publish practitioner phone numbers or contact details, and we do not sell your information.

This directory is not a crisis service. If you are in distress or thinking about harming yourself, please reach out now: Lifeline 13 11 14, Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, 13YARN (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) 13 92 76, or call 000 in an emergency.