Scheme Fees
A new round of workers compensation fees orders took effect in NSW on 1 February 2026, with maximum fees indexed by up to 4.57 percent. The updated orders, published in the NSW Government Gazette, set the maximum fees payable for a wide range of health services and reports in the workers compensation scheme. Insurers, providers and anyone benchmarking scheme fees should be working from the 2026 figures.
What changed on 1 February 2026
SIRA confirmed that workers compensation fees orders commencing 1 February 2026 were indexed by up to 4.57 percent. The updated orders span psychology and counselling, physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy, accredited exercise physiology, massage therapy, medical practitioner fees, surgeon and orthopaedic surgeon fees, independent consultants, injury management consultants, and medical examinations and reports. The travel rate adopted in the orders is 88 cents per kilometre, in line with the Australian Taxation Office cents per kilometre method for 2025-26.
Exceptions to the indexation
Not every fee moved. SIRA advised there was no increase to the maximum fees for hearing aids, with a separate schedule to follow after a structural review and consultation undertaken in 2025. Maximum fees set by the Australian Medical Association List of Medical Services and Fees were also not indexed in these orders, because the AMA indexed those fees on 1 November 2025.
Other indexation dates to note
The February orders are not the only indexation event in the calendar. SIRA has confirmed that indexed adjustments to workers compensation benefits apply from 1 April 2026, with the updated figures set out in the Workers Compensation Benefits Guide. On the CTP side, weekly statutory benefits under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 are indexed on 1 April each year, and the Motor Accident Injuries Indexation Order 2026 has been published.
What this means for insurers and providers
The practical task is simple but important: update fee references to the 2026 orders. Insurers and claims teams should ensure payment systems and approvals reflect the current maximum fees, and providers should confirm their schedules align. For organisations that benchmark their own fees against the scheme, the 4.57 percent ceiling and the staggered indexation dates across workers compensation and CTP are useful reference points for the year.
Key Takeaways
- NSW workers compensation fees orders commencing 1 February 2026 were indexed by up to 4.57 percent.
- The travel rate is 88 cents per kilometre, matching the ATO 2025-26 method.
- Hearing aid fees were not increased, pending a separate schedule.
- Workers compensation benefits are separately indexed from 1 April 2026, as are CTP weekly benefits under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did NSW workers compensation fees increase in February 2026?
The fees orders commencing 1 February 2026 were indexed by up to 4.57 percent.
Which fees were not indexed?
Hearing aid maximum fees were not increased, and fees set by the AMA List of Medical Services and Fees were not indexed because the AMA indexed them on 1 November 2025.
When are workers compensation benefits indexed?
Indexed adjustments to workers compensation benefits apply from 1 April 2026, separate from the February fees orders.
Primary source: SIRA fees orders, February 2026; NSW Government Gazette.
