How To See A Chiropractor Under Workers Compensation WorkCover Perth

Navigating the WorkCover System

If you’ve recently been injured at work, you might be feeling overwhelmed with paperwork, processes, and pain — not necessarily in that order. The good news? Chiropractic is an approved treatment option under WorkCover WA, and at Fortitude Chiropractic, we’re here to help you through both the recovery and the red tape.

In this blog, we’ll break down the step-by-step process of how to access chiropractic treatment under WorkCover WA so you can focus more on getting better and less on paperwork. 

Do you need more info about seeing a GP under another Government or Third-Party scheme, such as Medicare, DVA, or ICWA? Here’s some helpful information on this topic.

Step 1: Report the Injury to Your Employer

The very first thing you need to do is report your injury to your employer as soon as possible. This starts the official process and allows your employer to lodge a claim on your behalf.

Step 2: See a GP for a WorkCover Certificate

Before any treatment under WorkCover can happen, you’ll need to visit a GP. In WA GPs function as essentially the ‘gatekeeper’ to Workers Compensation treatment. They will assess how much time off you need, what your capacity for work is and what your treatment needs are, referring you to other health care providers as they see fit. Here’s a handy link to ‘A Guide from WorkCover for Injured Workers’

Your doctor will assess your injury and issue a WorkCover WA First Certificate of Capacity, this is an essential document. It outlines:

• The nature of your injury
• Your current work capacity
• Recommended treatments (Chiro, Physio, Specialists, ect)

Tip: If you’d like chiropractic to be part of your treatment plan, mention this to your GP so they can include it in the certificate.

Step 3: Lodge the Claim with Your Employer

Your employer is responsible for submitting:

• The injury report
• Your WorkCover certificate
• A completed Workers’ Compensation Claim Form

Once the claim is submitted, the insurer will review it and either accept or decline liability. Different workplaces will be covered under different insurances for workers compensation. Each insurance company works a little bit different when it comes to what they will approve in terms of further treatment for the injured worker, such as Chiro or Physio.

Step 4: Wait for Insurer Approval – What This Actually Means

Before you can access chiropractic treatment at no cost to you under WorkCover WA, your claim must be accepted by the insurer managing your employer’s workers’ compensation policy. This means that they are willing to support and cover the proposed Chiropractic treatment.

Once your claim is lodged (by your employer) and includes:

• The WorkCover WA First Certificate of Capacity from your GP
• A completed Workers’ Compensation Claim Form

…the insurer has 14 days to decide whether to accept or deny liability for your claim.

Can I Start Chiropractic Care Before the Claim is Accepted?

Yes – but it’s at your own risk.
If you’re in pain and want to start treatment with us ASAP before your claim is approved, you can begin treatment privately and pay for it yourself. However:

If your claim is later accepted, the insurer may reimburse those treatment costs — but only if:

• The treatment was reasonable and necessary
• It was directly related to the work-related injury
• The insurer agrees to backdate the approval to cover those services

Important: There’s no guarantee the insurer will backdate approval, so reimbursement isn’t automatic.

Here’s a useful guide to receiving compensation from WorkCover WA.

What Happens While You’re Waiting?

We understand that waiting for claim approval while you’re in pain or limited at work can be frustrating. That’s where we can help:

• We can review your situation and discuss whether early, private care is appropriate
• We can liaise with your GP to confirm chiropractic is included in your treatment plan
• If your claim is accepted, we can help prepare the paperwork for insurer invoicing or reimbursement

Our Recommendation

If you’re unsure what to do while waiting for approval:

• Speak with your GP about your need for early care and obtain you Doctors referral for Chiropractic
• Reach out to your Claims or Case Manager – they are your ‘middleman’ between you, the insurance company and all of your treatment providers. They will be able to advise you more about the expected process of treatment approval.
• Contact us at Fortitude Chiropractic — we can explain your options, estimated costs, and discuss a treatment plan and what this might look like in your case

Step 5: Book Your Initial Chiropractic Consultation

Once your claim is accepted and chiropractic has been approved as part of your treatment plan:

• You (or your GP) can send us your claim details
• We’ll book you in for an initial consultation or you can book online 
• We’ll liaise with your insurer, case manager and GP as needed

At Fortitude Chiropractic, we’ll conduct a thorough assessment, discuss your treatment plan, and handle the paperwork trail to make things easy for you.

What to Bring to Your First Appointment

✅ WorkCover WA Certificate of Capacity
✅ Claim number and insurer details
✅ Any imaging or medical reports
✅ Your GP’s referral or treatment plan (if provided)

We’ll Take Care of the Rest

From there, we handle the communications with your insurer, provide regular reports, and help guide your recovery journey with tailored chiropractic care and rehab support.

Final Thoughts

Navigating WorkCover WA can be a bit of a maze, but you don’t have to go it alone. If you’re dealing with a work-related injury and need chiropractic care, feel free to reach out – we’ll happily talk you through the process or liaise with your GP to get everything sorted.

References:

1. WorkCover WA. (n.d.). Employers’ guide to workers’ compensation – Claims process. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://www.workcover.wa.gov.au/resources/employers-guide-to-workers-compensation/#claims-process
2. Western Australian Government. (n.d.). Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/main_mrtitle_104_homepage.html
3. WorkCover WA. (n.d.). Workers’ guide to workers’ compensation. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://www.workcover.wa.gov.au/resources/workers-guide-to-workers-compensation/
4. WorkCover WA. (n.d.). Allied health providers. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://www.workcover.wa.gov.au/health-providers/allied-health-providers/
5. WorkCover WA. (2023, April). A guide for workers. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://www.workcover.wa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WorkCover-WA-Guide-for-Workers-Orange-Final.pdf
6. WorkCover WA. (n.d.). Receiving compensation. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://www.workcover.wa.gov.au/workers/understanding-your-rights-obligations-entitlements/receiving-compensation/

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