NSW Work Injury Claim

NSW Work Injury Claim

How do I find my employer's workers compensation insurer?

Start with the employer's injury information, policy notice and any claim correspondence. Most NSW employers are insured through the Nominal Insurer managed by icare, but a claims service provider may administer the file. Other employers use a specialised insurer or are licensed self-insurers. Confirm the current arrangement rather than selecting a name from a logo alone.

The insurer is not always the organisation whose brand appears most prominently on a letter. The Nominal Insurer, its claims service provider, a specialised insurer and a self-insured employer perform different roles. Identifying the entity making the decision helps ensure that notice, evidence and any review request reach the correct file.

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Illustrative editorial scene of an employee checking employment papers and an online insurer search at home.

Practical review

What to check in this situation

  • Ask the employer in writing for the insurer, policy contact and whether it is self-insured.
  • Check the latest decision letter, payment remittance, IME booking and treatment correspondence for the claim manager and number.
  • Use SIRA's current official insurer list and contact icare or SIRA where the policy cannot be identified.

Records that may help

Keep the employer's legal name and ABN if known, payslips, contract, claim correspondence, policy notice, insurer reference and a log of identification attempts.

Next procedural step

Once the insurer is confirmed, send the injury notification or disputed material directly and obtain a written acknowledgment.

In NSW, workers compensation claims are managed through different arrangements depending on the employer, industry, and whether the employer is covered by the Nominal Insurer, a specialised insurer, or a self-insurance licence. Working out who is administering the file matters because that entity issues or administers decisions about liability, weekly payments, treatment, work capacity, and return-to-work planning.

Directory checked against SIRA's official list, updated 22 May 2026. Insurer appointments and licences can change, so confirm the current position on the SIRA source before relying on this directory.

How to identify your insurer from the claim documents

  1. Check the most recent decision letter (denial, weekly payment change, or treatment refusal).
  2. Match the letterhead entity to the insurer directories below (scheme agent, specialised insurer, or self-insurer).
  3. If names conflict across documents, email both insurer and employer and request written confirmation of the legal decision-maker.

This check reduces the risk of sending evidence to the wrong team or treating an employer contact as the claims decision-maker.

If you do not have a claim letter yet

Ask the employer in writing for the insurer or self-insurer name, claim-notification contact and policy or claim reference. Employers must give workers information about how to report an injury and make a claim, and current SIRA guidance says an employer must notify its insurer within 48 hours after becoming aware of a workplace injury. A worker or representative can also make the initial notification directly once the insurer is identified.

Do not wait indefinitely for HR to respond. Keep the request, report the injury in writing and preserve the Certificate of Capacity and first medical records. Missing insurer details do not safely extend every claim or dispute period, so obtain advice promptly if notice or claim timing is already being questioned.

Illustrative example

A casual warehouse worker reports a lifting injury to a supervisor but receives no claim number. Payroll says the employer is covered by icare, while a later email names a scheme agent. The worker asks in writing for the claim reference, sends the Certificate of Capacity to the scheme agent and keeps both replies. The records identify who administers the claim without treating the employer, icare and the agent as three separate claims. This example does not determine liability or an entitlement.

What usually goes wrong before workers search for their insurer

The worker only knows the employer name

Many people are told to deal with HR, payroll, or a return-to-work coordinator without ever being given the actual insurer or claim manager details. That becomes a problem when you need to chase unpaid benefits, a treatment decision, or a missed certificate update.

The claim is really with a scheme agent, not icare itself

People often say they are "with icare" when the day-to-day decisions are actually being made by EML, Allianz, GIO, QBE, or Gallagher Bassett. Knowing the scheme agent helps you identify who issued the letter and who is responsible for the next step.

A dispute letter arrives before the insurer is understood

By the time aSection 78 notice, payment stoppage, or treatment refusal is issued, workers sometimes still do not know which entity is behind the decision. That slows down responses and creates avoidable deadline pressure.

The real issue is not identity, but escalation

Once you know the insurer, the next question is usually how to challenge their position — whether that is a denied claim, aweekly payments stoppage, atreatment denial, or a dispute headed to thePersonal Injury Commission.

1. icare (the Nominal Insurer)

Most employers in NSW are covered by the nominal insurer scheme. In practical terms, that means many workers say their claim is "with icare". But icare usually appoints a scheme agent to handle the day-to-day file, issue decisions, approve treatment, and manage weekly payments.

icare scheme agents

If you are unsure which scheme agent is handling your policy, contact icare directly on 13 44 22.

SIRA lists all five organisations above as agents managing claims for the Nominal Insurer. For the separate Treasury Managed Fund, SIRA currently lists Employers Mutual NSW Limited and Allianz Australia Workers' Compensation (NSW) Limited as claims agents.

How to identify the actual decision-maker on your file

Check the top of any insurer letter, certificate response, IME booking, payment remittance, or treatment decision. The name on that document is usually the scheme agent or self-insurer managing your claim.

If the insurer has issued a decision you disagree with, keep the letter and compare it against the next step guides fordenied claims,work capacity decisions, andunfair IME reports.

2. Specialised insurers

Some industries have dedicated insurers rather than the ordinary nominal insurer pathway. These insurers manage claims for particular sectors and can have their own claims teams and processes.

Coal Mines Insurance Pty Ltd

Provides insurance to the NSW coal industry under the Coal Industry Act 2001.

Guild Insurance

Provides insurance for pharmacies and child-care providers operating in NSW.

Hospitality Industry Insurance Limited

Provides insurance for accommodation and hospitality businesses, including pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafes, and takeaway businesses.

Racing NSW

Provides insurance to the NSW thoroughbred racing and training industry for registered race clubs and licensed trainers.

StateCover Mutual

Provides insurance to local councils in NSW.

Trinity Insurance

Provides workers compensation insurance for employers whose main business or industrial activity relates to the Roman Catholic Church and its institutions.

3. Self-insurers

Self-insurers are employers licensed by SIRA to manage their own workers compensation liabilities. If you work for one of these employers, the claim may be handled internally or through their own approved arrangements rather than through the nominal insurer scheme.

Practical checklist if you cannot work out who your insurer is

Check your insurer letters and payment remittances

The insurer or scheme agent name is often buried in the footer, email signature, or remittance advice.

Ask your employer for the claim number and insurer name

Do not settle for “icare” or “HR is handling it”. Ask for the actual insurer, claim number, and claim officer.

Keep the latest certificate and dispute letters together

That makes it easier to assess whether the issue is about liability, work capacity, payments, or treatment.

Match the problem to the right next-step guide

Use targeted pages forPIAWE recalculation,treatment denial, andPIC disputesrather than treating everything as a generic complaint.

Current licensed self-insurers

Current group self-insurers

Having trouble with an insurer?

Whether you are dealing with icare, a specialised insurer, or a self-insurer, the core rules remain the same. If your claim is denied, your weekly payments are wrong, or treatment is delayed, the file usually needs quick evidence and strategy rather than more waiting.

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Common questions about NSW workers compensation insurers

Is icare always the insurer for a NSW workers compensation claim?

No. Many NSW claims sit under icare as the nominal insurer, but day-to-day claim decisions are usually handled by a scheme agent such as EML, Allianz, GIO, QBE, or Gallagher Bassett. Some workers are covered by specialised insurers or self-insured employers instead.

What if I cannot identify the insurer or claim manager?

Check the latest decision letter, payment remittance, IME booking, and certificate correspondence. If the documents conflict, ask the employer and insurer in writing for the claim number, insurer name, claim officer, and the entity responsible for decisions.

Does the insurer name matter when payments or treatment are disputed?

Yes. The insurer, self-insurer, or appointed claims agent makes or administers claim decisions about liability, weekly payments, treatment, and work capacity. If a dispute remains, a worker or another eligible party may commence the appropriate Personal Injury Commission pathway; the insurer then participates as a respondent. Identifying the correct claims decision-maker helps you direct evidence and correspondence properly.

Related guides

Unsure who your insurer is?

If you cannot identify the insurer or agent, or you are getting bounced between your employer and the claims team, we can help you work out who is responsible and what to do next.

Start Free Claim CheckCall (02) 7233 3661

*This list is for general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice. SIRA reviews licences for specialised and self-insurers periodically. Always verify current insurer status on the official SIRA website.