Ways to pay
Chiropractic for Work Injuries
Two things run in parallel after a work injury: getting assessed and treated, and getting a claim sorted. They move at different speeds. You do not have to wait for the second before starting the first.
Can workers compensation cover chiropractic treatment?
It can, where you have an accepted claim in Western Australia and your employer's insurer approves the treatment. Chiropractors registered with AHPRA are recognised by WorkCover WA, and chiropractic fees are set in the Workers Compensation (Health Services) Fees Order. For Northern Beaches Chiropractic to bill your claim directly we need your claim number and insurer details. Approval is the insurer's decision, not the clinic's.
How it works
- 1
Report the injury and lodge a claim
Tell your employer as soon as you can and see a doctor for a Certificate of Capacity. Your employer passes the claim to their insurer. WorkCover WA can help if you are stuck — 1300 794 744.
- 2
Get your claim number and insurer details
Once the claim is lodged you will be given a claim number and told who the insurer is. Those two details are what let us bill treatment to the claim rather than to you.
- 3
Check treatment approval before you start
WorkCover WA advises workers to check with the employer's insurer before commencing treatment with a provider, so the cost is covered. Your claims officer can confirm whether chiropractic has been approved for your injury.
- 4
Book your appointment
Bring your claim number, insurer details and any certificates or imaging. Where an accepted claim and approval are in place, treatment is billed to the insurer.
- 5
If the claim is not settled yet
You can still be assessed and treated. Those appointments are charged at the standard fee, and you may be able to seek reimbursement once the claim is established — subject to the insurer accepting the claim and approving the treatment. Reimbursement is not guaranteed, so keep your receipts and talk to your claims officer first.
Treatment and claim approval are separate things
This is the part that causes the most confusion, so it is worth being blunt about it. Whether your claim is accepted is decided by your employer's insurer. The clinic has no say in it, cannot influence it, and cannot tell you how it will go.
What the clinic can do is assess you, treat you where that is appropriate, and document what was found and what was done. That documentation is often what a claim ends up resting on, which is a good reason to be assessed properly and early rather than waiting.
If your claim is declined, the clinical care you received still stands and still counts. The billing arrangement is what changes.
Common work-related presentations
Manual handling injuries — lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling — make up a large share of what comes in. Lower backs and shoulders dominate, usually where the load exceeded what the tissue could tolerate on the day.
Repetitive task injuries build more slowly and are easier to miss early. Trades, warehouse work, driving and long periods at a keyboard all produce their own patterns.
Slips, trips and falls produce the more acute presentations, and those are the ones where prompt assessment matters most — both clinically and for the record.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a claim number?
To have treatment billed directly to your claim, yes — we need your claim number and your insurer's details. You can be seen without one; those appointments are charged at the standard fee.
Can I start treatment before my claim is approved?
Yes. You do not have to wait to be assessed or treated. Those appointments are charged privately, and you may be able to seek reimbursement once the claim is established — that depends on the insurer accepting the claim and approving the treatment, so check with your claims officer and keep your receipts.
What happens if my claim is not approved?
Appointments remain payable by you. The clinic does not decide claim outcomes and cannot appeal them on your behalf. If you want to dispute a decision, WorkCover WA can explain your options.
What information does the clinic need?
Your claim number, your insurer's name, your claims officer's contact details, and any Certificate of Capacity or approval correspondence you have. Bring relevant imaging or reports if you have them.
Can my chiropractor provide progress reports?
Yes. Insurers and case managers commonly request progress information during a claim, and reports can be prepared from the clinical record with your consent.
Is chiropractic covered by WorkCover WA?
Chiropractors registered with AHPRA are recognised by WorkCover WA and chiropractic fees are set in the Workers Compensation (Health Services) Fees Order. Coverage for your specific injury still depends on your claim being accepted and the insurer approving the treatment. WorkCover WA advises checking with the insurer before commencing treatment.
Where this information comes from
Funding rules change. The statements on this page were checked against the responsible authority in August 2026. If you are reading this much later, verify anything that matters.
Last reviewed . General information about funding pathways, not financial, legal or individual health advice.
Ready to book?
1244 Marmion Avenue, Currambine. Bring anything listed above and we will sort the rest at the appointment.