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Who can make a psychological injury or mental health claim?

You may be able to claim workers' compensation if events at work have had an impact on your mental health or emotional wellbeing. You may also be able to make a claim if you have a pre-existing psychological condition that worsened at work.

Am I eligible to make a psychological work injury claim? 

Workers eligible to claim workers' compensation for psychological injuries include:

  • full time workers
  • part-time workers
  • casual employees
  • subcontractors

If you're unsure whether you may be eligible to make a compensation claim, use our free claim check tool to find out. 

What types of mental injuries can I claim compensation for?

Some of the most common mental injuries you may be able to claim workers’ compensation for include:

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

As well as workplace incidents, you may also be able to claim work injury compensation for a recurrence, aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation or deterioration of any pre-existing psychological condition impacted by your work.

In some states you may be able to claim for psychological trauma sustained during a normal recess, such as lunchtime or morning and afternoon tea breaks.

Find out more about physical injuries and workplace diseases that you may be able to claim workers' compensation for. 

A new mental injury definition 

In Victoria from 31 March 2024, you can only claim WorkCover for a mental injury if it:

a. causes significant behavioural, cognitive or psychological dysfunction 

b. has been diagnosed by a medical practitioner (General Practitioner or Psychiatrist) in accordance with the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

c. is predominantly caused by your employment, and

d. is not caused by stress or burnout as a result of events that are considered usual and are reasonably expected to occur in the course of your duties. 

A mental injury must satisfy all of these definitions to be eligible for compensation. 

Exclusion: a worker may remain eligible for compensation in some situations, including if a worker's mental injury has been predominantly caused by traumatic events. For example, frontline workers such as police officers and paramedics.

What are the time limits for making a psychological injury claim

Time limits for a psychological injury claim at work can vary under the different laws, depending on where you live. So it's important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. 

It’s also important that you report your trauma to both your employer and the workers’ compensation authority that covers you as soon as possible. It’s best to do this within 30 days of the incident or once you’ve become aware of your psychological injury or illness.

What psychological injury compensation and benefits can I claim?

The compensation and benefits you may receive from a psychological injury claim depend on (the severity of) your injury, when it happened, the law you’re covered by and the state you live in.

How much you may receive will depend on your specific information. You may receive payments that are equal to a percentage of your weekly earnings and for all reasonable medical and associated expenses. You can claim a lump sum if the injury has caused permanent impairment.

More frequently asked questions about compensation

Workers' compensation covers all 'reasonable' expenses such as:

  • medical, hospital and nursing
  • personal, household and occupational
  • doctors and chemists
  • physiotherapy and chiropractic care
  • rehabilitation
  • ambulance services

Your workers' compensation authority may also approve payment for:

  • attendant care
  • modifications to a home or car
  • home help
  • transportation costs

Our lawyers can advise you on what you're able to claim and will ensure you get all the benefits you're entitled to. Get in touch

In addition to workers' compensation for your mental injury, you might also be entitled to claim from your superannuation insurance policy:

Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) benefits

You may be eligible for a TPD compensation claim if you’re unable to do your normal job or any other work related to your training and experience.

Income protection benefits

Income protection claims provide you financial support when your mental injury is holding you back from earning income from your regular job.

Death benefits

Death benefits are paid to a surviving partner, children or dependants, or to the deceased’s estate.

Read more about superannuation claims

If your mental injuries are (fully or partly) the fault of your employer or any other person, you may also be able to claim additional compensation under common law. Whether you're entitled to this claim depends on the state in which your work injury occurred. Time limits and complicated rules apply.

Common law claims usually include financial support being claimed for:

  • pain and suffering
  • past and future loss of earnings or loss of earning capacity
  • past and future loss of superannuation contributions.

Preparing to make a psychological injury claim 

Before you make a claim, there are a couple of things you need to prepare to ensure the process runs smoothly. 

Key things to prepare:

  1. Make sure you've reported your psychological injury to your employer. 
  2. Obtain a medical certificate. In most states this is called a WorkCover medical certificate, which you can obtain from your usual doctor. 
  3. Lodge a worker's injury claim form. This is a standard form which you can obtain from your employer, from your workers' compensation insurer, or we can provide you with the form upon request.

Make sure to keep copies of both the claim form and the medical certificate before you give the originals to your employer or workers' compensation insurer. 

Process for making a claim

Our work injury lawyers specialise in psychological injury and mental injury. We will assist you with your claim and make sure you know about your rights and entitlements.

We'll keep you informed throughout the whole process and provide you with legal advice that is easy to understand.


01

Find out if you have a claim 

Use our free claim check tool and find out in minutes. Our experienced work injury lawyers will review your circumstances to provide you with the the best advice. 

02

We’ll prepare your claim.

Our work injury lawyers who specialise in psychological injury and mental injury will take care of the legal process on your behalf. You will be kept informed of all stages along the way, including what fees are payable. 

03

Receive payment.

If your psychological injury claim is successful and damages are awarded, we'll process your payment as soon as we receive it.


We're here to help when you need us most.

Call us on 1800 991 692, or leave us a message below to request a call back and one of our team will be in touch as soon as we can. 

Office locations

We’re here to help. Get in touch with your local office.

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We have lawyers who specialise in a range of legal claims who travel to Australian Capital Territory. If you need a lawyer in Canberra or elsewhere in Australian Capital Territory, please call us on 1800 675 346.

We have lawyers who specialise in a range of legal claims who travel to Tasmania. If you need a lawyer in Hobart, Launceston or elsewhere in Tasmania, please call us on 1800 675 346.