If you were injured at work, or became ill because of your work, in New South Wales, icare is the workers compensation insurer and SIRA the regulator. These are the steps and time limits from the official sources.
What to do, step by step
- Tell your employer as soon as you can. Legal Aid NSW says you must report the injury to your workplace within 30 days.
- See a doctor and get a NSW certificate of capacity. You need one for weekly payments, and each covers up to 28 days.
- Make your claim. icare says claims must be made within 6 months of the injury, or within 3 years if there is a reasonable cause for the delay.
Injured on the way to or from work?
In NSW a journey to or from work can be covered by workers compensation only where there is a real and substantial connection between your employment and the accident (icare). Some workers, such as police, paramedics and firefighters, do not need that connection.
Free official help
- icare: 13 77 22
- Independent Review Office (IRO): free general advice and access to free legal advice: 13 94 76
- Personal Injury Commission (disputes): 1800 742 679
Find the right lawyer to speak with
Answer a few quick questions. We send you the name and contact details of a law firm that handles this kind of claim in New South Wales, so you can choose to speak with them.
Getting the name of the right firm is free. We do not charge you, and we do not take a fee from the law firm.
General information, not legal advice. Claim Done is not a law firm. Checked against the official sources below on 22 October 2026. If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450.
Official sources
- icare: Work break or journey payments
- icare: Notify us that you have been injured
- icare: Organisations involved in your dispute
- Legal Aid NSW: Workers compensation
- Legal Aid NSW: What to do after a car accident