The NSW Motor Accident Injuries scheme, explained
Who runs the CTP scheme, which law it sits under, and what statutory benefits and threshold injuries mean, without the jargon.
If you have started reading about your claim, you have probably run into a wall of acronyms: CTP, SIRA, MAII, statutory benefits, threshold injury. This guide translates them, so you can spend less energy decoding letters and more on recovering.
The law and the regulator
The NSW motor accident scheme for accidents on or after 1 December 2017 is set up by the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW), sometimes shortened to the MAI Act or MAII scheme. It is regulated by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), the same government body that regulates the NSW workers compensation scheme. The actual claims are handled by licensed CTP insurers, which include insurers such as NRMA, Allianz, GIO, QBE, AAMI and Suncorp.
Because SIRA sits behind both the motor accident and the workers compensation schemes, you will often find that a psychologist who is experienced with one is familiar with the other. That is why this directory lists SIRA-experienced psychologists, while asking you to confirm motor accident (CTP) cover directly, since the two schemes are billed and approved differently.
Statutory benefits: help without a court case
Statutory benefits are the defined benefits you can receive after a motor accident without having to go to court, and they include treatment and care such as psychology, weekly income payments if you cannot work, and some other costs. For the first 26 weeks, these benefits are available regardless of fault, which is designed to get people supported early rather than after a long legal fight.
A separate pathway, a common law damages claim, exists for more serious cases and involves fault and longer timeframes. This directory focuses on the treatment-and-care side of statutory benefits, which is what funds seeing a psychologist while you recover.
Threshold and non-threshold injuries
The scheme divides injuries into threshold injuries (previously called minor injuries) and non-threshold injuries, and the category affects how long some benefits last. For psychological injury, a threshold injury is broadly one that is not a recognised psychiatric illness, and SIRA gives acute stress disorder and adjustment disorder as examples of threshold psychological injuries. A recognised psychiatric illness, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or a major depressive disorder, is generally treated as non-threshold and can attract longer entitlements.
This categorisation is a clinical and legal judgement made through your treating practitioners and the insurer, not something you have to work out yourself. It is one reason it helps to see a psychologist who is used to documenting motor accident injuries clearly.
Where this directory fits
Motor Accident Psychology NSW does not decide any of this. It is an independent guide and directory that helps you understand the scheme and find a SIRA-experienced psychologist. For decisions about your specific claim, rely on your insurer, your GP, your psychologist, and if needed a legal adviser.
This guide is general information, not legal, medical, or crisis advice. If you are struggling right now, you do not have to wait: Lifeline is on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue is on 1300 22 4636, 13YARN (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) is on 13 92 76, and in an emergency call 000.
Sources
Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW); State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) guidance for people injured in motor accidents (https://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/resources-library/motor-accident-resources/publications/injury-advice-centre/guide-for-people-injured-in-motor-accidents-in-nsw) and SIRA "Benefits for injured people" (https://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/resources-library/regulation-and-fraud/reforms/ctp-green-slip-reforms/benefits-for-injured-people). Definitions such as threshold injury are summarised from SIRA public guidance and may be updated, so confirm the current wording with SIRA or your insurer.