Psychology and Psychiatry for WorkCover
Nurtured Thoughts provides psychological and psychiatric treatment for workers with an accepted WorkCover or workers' compensation claim. We see patients in Queensland at our Graceville clinic and Australia-wide by telehealth.
Treatment is billed directly to your claim, usually with no out-of-pocket cost.
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Who Can Access WorkCover Mental Health Services
Nurtured Thoughts can assess and treat workers with a psychological injury such as depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), at any stage of a workers’ compensation claim.
That includes people who are:
Dealing with workplace bullying or harassment
Bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment, can cause a psychological injury on their own.
Coping with high demands at work
A heavy workload or sustained pressure can lead to anxiety and depression.
Affected by violence or a traumatic incident
Being involved in or witnessing violence, aggression or a serious accident at work can lead to PTSD.
Recovering from a physical injury
Low mood, anxiety, frustration and poor sleep are common during a long recovery.
Living with persistent pain
Chronic pain often takes a toll on mental health and concentration.
Preparing to return to work
Going back to work can bring its own anxiety, particularly after a long absence.
Managing conversations with an employer, insurer or case manager
These discussions can be stressful and difficult to handle while you are recovering.
Referred for mental health assessment or treatment by your GP
Your GP may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist as part of your claim.
WorkCover Funding for Psychological Injury
A psychological injury is a mental health condition that work has caused or contributed to. WorkCover funds assessment and treatment for a psychological injury, whether it arises on its own or alongside a physical injury.
A Physical Injury Claim Can Cover Mental Health Treatment
Many workers who are physically injured at work develop anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress in the months that follow.
A long recovery, surgery or a change to duties can all contribute.
Mental health treatment may be added to the claim you already have.
Treatment Is Funded Once Your Claim Is Approved
Your insurer funds treatment once your claim is accepted and your treatment is approved.
In Queensland, that insurer is usually WorkCover Queensland.
Names for workers' compensation schemes in other states differ, but most cover treatment for a psychological injury in a similar way.
What You Need to Know
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HOW IT'S FUNDED
Psychologist: Billed to your claim
Psychologist: Billed to your claim
PRESCRIBING
Psychologist: Psychologists do not prescribe medication
Psychologist: Medication where it is clinically appropriate
APPOINTMENTS
Psychologist: In person at Graceville or by telehealth
Psychologist: By telehealth
WHO REFERS YOU
Psychologist: Usually your GP, as part of your claim
Psychologist: Your GP, as part of your claim
WHAT THEY CAN DO
Psychologist: Psychological assessments and therapy for the mental health effects of a work injury
Psychologist: Psychiatric assessment, diagnosis and treatment (as needed - not always all 3)
Aspect | Psychologist | Psychiatrist |
|---|---|---|
HOW IT'S FUNDED | Billed to your claim | Billed to your claim |
PRESCRIBING | Psychologists do not prescribe medication | Medication where it is clinically appropriate |
APPOINTMENTS | In person at Graceville or by telehealth | By telehealth |
WHO REFERS YOU | Usually your GP, as part of your claim | Your GP, as part of your claim |
WHAT THEY CAN DO | Psychological assessments and therapy for the mental health effects of a work injury | Psychiatric assessment, diagnosis and treatment (as needed - not always all 3) |
Our WorkCover Psychologists and Psychiatrists
Nurtured Thoughts has psychologists and psychiatrists in the same clinic, and both can treat you under your WorkCover claim. This allows us to meet all your treatment needs under one roof.
Will I See a Psychologist or Psychiatrist?
Your GP will advise whether you should see a psychologist, psychiatrist or both. Your insurer approves the treatment as part of your claim, and your case manager or customer adviser can help arrange it.
Our $1,950 ADHD Diagnostic & Treatment Package
A WorkCover claim brings paperwork, approvals and reports on top of everything else you are dealing with. We handle our part of that, so you can concentrate on your recovery.
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Appointments typically within 2 weeks
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In person at Graceville or Australia-wide by telehealth
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Progress reports for your insurer as needed
1. Talk to Your GP
Your GP completes the WorkCover paperwork and arranges the referral as part of your claim.
The referral can be to a psychologist, a psychiatrist or both.
If your claim is already accepted and your GP has recommended treatment, you can go straight to step 2.
2. Contact Us
Send us the referral with your claim number and your insurer's details, or call us and we will walk you through it.
Both are needed before anything is booked, so your funding can be confirmed. Then we will match you with a clinician whose experience fits your situation.
4. Attend Your First Appointment
Appointments will continue as needed, on a schedule approved by your treating clinician and insurer.
Your clinician sends progress reports to your GP and to your case manager or customer adviser, as that is how ongoing treatment continues to be approved.
Our role is treating your psychological injury and supporting you through the WorkCover process - your insurer makes the decisions about your claim.
3. Attend Your First Appointment
Your clinician will ask about your injury, how it has affected you and what you want from treatment.
You will agree on a plan together. Returning to work is often part of that plan, when and if it is clinically appropriate.
Appointments are available in person at our Graceville clinic and by telehealth.
Did You Know About Common Law Claims?
Some injured workers can also make a common law claim for damages. A common law claim is a separate legal process from your WorkCover claim.
A lawyer can advise whether this applies to your situation, and some lawyers work on a "no win, no fee" basis. WorkCover Queensland's website explains how common law claims work.
Frequently Asked Questionss
Your GP arranges the referral as part of your WorkCover claim, and that is the usual route to funded treatment. If you are not sure what your GP has already sent us, call us and we will check.
Treatment approved under your claim is billed directly to your insurer, so there is usually nothing for you to pay. If your insurer has not approved a particular appointment, we will tell you before it goes ahead.
Treatment funded by WorkCover usually starts once your claim is accepted and your treatment is approved. In Queensland, WorkCover may also fund some treatment for a psychological injury while your claim is being decided. If your claim is still being assessed, call us and we will talk through your options.
Your insurer approves treatment in blocks rather than all at once. Your clinician reviews how you are going and requests further appointments when they are needed, which is what the progress reports are for.
Your employer does not receive the details of what you discuss in your appointments. However, they will receive information about what you may or may not be able to do at work, so they can plan suitable duties.
Lodging a WorkCover claim authorises your insurer to obtain information about your injury from the people treating you, so there is less privacy than there would be with private treatment. Reports will be sent to the insurer covering your diagnosis, how your treatment is going and what you need next. WorkCover can only use that information to assess and manage your claim.
Your clinician's job is to treat your psychological injury and to support you back to work when and if that is clinically appropriate. Progress reports comment on how your recovery is going. Your employer, your insurer and your GP manage the return-to-work process itself.
Our psychologists and psychiatrists see patients across Australia by telehealth. Whether telehealth treatment can be funded depends on your own state's scheme, so tell us where you are and who your insurer is and we will confirm if we can help before anything is booked.
Nurtured Thoughts can provide a one-off psychiatric assessment where an insurer or employer needs an opinion on diagnosis, capacity for work or whether current treatment is appropriate. We do not provide independent medical examinations or permanent impairment assessments.
