Head & Brain Injury Workers Compensation NSW
Concussion, traumatic brain injury, post-concussion syndrome — our WorkCover doctors coordinate urgent assessment, imaging and neuropsychological review for NSW head injury claims.
Every appointment on this page is paid by the insurer under your NSW workers compensation claim. You don't receive an invoice for any of it — not for our doctors, physios, psychologists, rehab providers or compensation lawyers.
Yes — head & brain injury is a standard NSW WorkCover claim
If work caused or aggravated it, NSW workers compensation covers it. You don't need a single dramatic incident, and you don't need a pre-existing-condition-free history. Here's the short version of what that means for head & brain injury.
Work caused or aggravated it
Sudden or cumulative, new or aggravated — head & brain injury from work-related causes qualifies. Our doctors document the mechanism so the insurer can accept the claim.
Book a WorkCover doctorEvery appointment is paid
Doctors, physios, psychologists, rehab providers and compensation lawyers — all paid by the insurer under your accepted claim. You never receive an invoice.
See our workcover doctorsDisputes are handled for you
If the insurer pushes back, our compensation lawyers step in at no cost to you. You don't fight the system alone.
See how our lawyers helpHow head & brain injury happens at work
Most claims in this category come down to a handful of mechanisms. If yours fits any of these, it's almost certainly claimable — and even if it doesn't, book an assessment anyway. The list isn't exhaustive.
- Falls from height on construction or trade sites
- Struck-by injuries from falling objects or tools
- Motor vehicle incidents during work travel
- Machinery strikes in manufacturing and warehousing
- Slips and trips on unstable surfaces
- Assaults and workplace violence in frontline roles
Not sure if your cause fits? It usually does. Take the 60-second eligibility check →
When to see a WorkCover doctor
Any of these symptoms after a work-related incident or from a work-related activity means it's time to get assessed. Early assessment gives head & brain injury the best chance of fast recovery.
- Headache, dizziness or nausea after the incident
- Confusion, memory gaps or delayed responses
- Blurred or double vision and light sensitivity
- Mood changes, irritability or emotional flatness
- Fatigue and difficulty concentrating at work
- Loss of consciousness, even briefly
Don't push through. The workers who recover fastest are the ones who see a doctor in the first week.
What NSW WorkCover pays for with head & brain injury
Once your claim is accepted (or under provisional liability), the insurer pays for every line below directly. You don't receive an invoice for any of it.
- Emergency assessment and CT or MRI imaging
- Neurologist and neurosurgeon consultations
- Neuropsychological assessment and cognitive rehab
- Physiotherapy for balance and vestibular issues
- Psychological support for mood and trauma symptoms
- Speech therapy and occupational therapy if needed
- Weekly income payments during recovery
- Lump-sum compensation for permanent impairment
What the NSW data says
You would not be the first person to claim for head & brain injury. The national and NSW data makes that very clear.
Falls from height — workplace fatalities, 2023
Falls from height are a primary mechanism of serious head and brain injury in Australian workplaces. Source: Safe Work Australia, Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities, 2023.
Falls, slips and trips — share of serious claims
The second-largest claim category nationally, and a primary source of workplace head injuries. Source: Safe Work Australia, 2023–24.
Want the full picture? See WorkCover in numbers →
How we handle head & brain injury claims
Our doctors, physios, psychologists, rehab providers and compensation lawyers all work under one roof. One phone call gets the whole team involved.
Brain injury symptoms often show up days or weeks after the incident — early assessment matters. Our WorkCover doctors coordinate urgent imaging and neurology review, then run the Certificate of Capacity and referrals to neuropsychology, physio and our psychologists. For more serious injuries, our rehab providers handle the return-to-work pathway in stages and our compensation lawyers run any permanent impairment claim.
WorkCover Doctors
The frontline team for head & brain injury. Most workers in this category see our workcover doctors team first after the initial doctor assessment.
See our workcover doctorsWorkCover Psychologist
Part of our integrated head & brain injury care team. Looped in as your recovery needs dictate — fully paid under your claim.
See our workcover psychologistCompensation Lawyer
Part of our integrated head & brain injury care team. Looped in as your recovery needs dictate — fully paid under your claim.
See our compensation lawyerWondering what weekly payments would look like? Use the Payment Calculator →
Related resources
Three starting points for digging deeper — an explainer on our blog, the eligibility quiz, and other injury types our team handles.
Head & Brain Injury claims — what workers ask
The same questions come up in every consult. Here are the answers in short form.
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Read moreContinueWorkCover Doctors — how our team helps
The frontline service for head & brain injury recovery — fully paid under your claim.
Read moreInjured your head & brain? Start with one phone call.
Our WorkCover doctors book same-week appointments. One call covers the Certificate of Capacity, the insurer paperwork, and the referral to our physios, psychologists or lawyers as needed.
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