WorkSafe and TAC Physiotherapy: A Simple Guide for Injured Victorians
If you’ve been hurt at work or in a transport accident in Victoria, WorkSafe or the TAC may help pay for your physiotherapy. This guide explains how each scheme works, what you need before your first appointment, and how to start treatment at a Keep In Motion clinic in Craigieburn, Wollert, Coolaroo or Truganina.
This article is general information only. Scheme rules change, so always check your entitlements with WorkSafe Victoria or the TAC.
Quick answer: can WorkSafe or the TAC pay for my physio?
Yes, in many cases. If you have an accepted WorkSafe claim, WorkSafe can pay the reasonable costs of physiotherapy for your work injury. If you have a TAC claim number, the TAC can help pay for physiotherapy for your accident injuries. In the first 90 days after the accident, this usually needs no prior approval if a doctor or health professional has recommended it.
WorkSafe vs TAC: what’s the difference?
| WorkSafe Victoria | TAC (Transport Accident Commission) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it covers | Workers injured at work or because of their work | People injured in a transport accident in Victoria |
| What you need | An accepted WorkSafe claim | A TAC claim number |
| Who manages your claim | A WorkSafe agent | The TAC |
| Treatment plan | An Allied Health Recovery Management Plan by the 5th physio consultation | The TAC may check your progress and decide how long it will pay for treatment |
| Help line | 1800 136 089 | 1300 654 329 |
How TAC physiotherapy works
At Keep In Motion we provide TAC physiotherapy for people recovering from transport accident injuries. Here is how the TAC process works.
Do I need approval?
According to the TAC, you don’t need prior approval for physiotherapy in the first 90 days after your accident if:
- you have a TAC claim number
- your doctor or another health professional recommends it
- the treatment is for your accident injuries.
You should contact the TAC for approval if it is close to or more than 90 days since your accident and more treatment hasn’t already been approved. You also need approval if it has been more than 6 months since the TAC last paid for any of your treatment.
How payment works
There are two ways to pay:
- The clinic bills the TAC directly. Give your TAC claim number at your appointment, and the clinic invoices the TAC at the TAC rate.
- You pay and claim it back. You pay the clinic, then claim reimbursement at the TAC rate through myTAC or by emailing your receipt to the TAC.
What does the TAC pay?
The TAC sets maximum amounts it will pay. From 1 July 2026, these are $134.11 for an initial physiotherapy consultation and $100.07 for a standard consultation. Telehealth and aquatic physiotherapy (hydrotherapy) are paid at the same rates as the in-person equivalents.
Are there gap fees?
Some clinics charge more than the TAC rate and ask for a gap payment. The TAC says it usually can’t reimburse gap payments, although you may be able to claim part of a gap through Medicare or private health insurance. Ask the clinic when you book whether they charge at TAC rates.
How WorkSafe physiotherapy works
If you’ve been injured at work, our WorkSafe physiotherapy service can support your recovery and return to work. Here is how WorkSafe covers physiotherapy.
What WorkSafe can pay for
Once your claim is accepted, WorkSafe (through your agent) can pay for medical and like services that are reasonable and necessary for your work injury. Physiotherapy is one of these services. WorkSafe publishes a fee schedule that sets the maximum amount it will pay for each type of physiotherapy service.
Who can treat you
WorkSafe only pays for physiotherapy from physiotherapists who are registered with WorkSafe and registered as physiotherapists. If you’re unsure, ask the clinic before your first visit.
Your recovery plan
Your physiotherapist must complete an Allied Health Recovery Management Plan (AHRMP) by your fifth consultation. A plan is also needed if treatment will continue beyond 12 months from the date of your injury, if you change physiotherapy clinics, or if your agent asks for one. The plan explains your goals, your treatment and how you are progressing.
Approvals and changes
Some services need approval from your agent before they are provided. If your agent decides that treatment is no longer reasonable or necessary, they must give you at least 28 days’ written notice and explain your right to appeal.
If you have questions about your claim, call the WorkSafe Advisory Service on 1800 136 089.
What to bring to your first appointment
- Your WorkSafe claim number and agent’s details, or your TAC claim number
- Any referral, letter or treatment recommendation from your doctor
- Scans, X-ray or other imaging reports, if you have them
- A list of your current medications
- Comfortable clothing so your physiotherapist can assess the injured area
What happens at your first physio session?
Your physiotherapist will ask how the injury happened, how it affects your work and daily life, and what you want to get back to doing. They will assess your movement, strength and pain, and explain what they find.
Together you’ll agree on a treatment plan. Depending on your injury, treatment may include:
- exercise rehabilitation to rebuild strength and movement
- hands-on (manual) physiotherapy treatment
- hydrotherapy (water-based exercise)
- dry needling, where suitable
- advice on managing pain and returning to work or normal activities safely.
Every injury is different, so treatment and recovery time vary from person to person.
WorkSafe and TAC physio at Keep In Motion
Keep In Motion Physio welcomes WorkSafe and TAC clients. Our clinics are:
| Clinic | Address |
|---|---|
| Physiotherapy Craigieburn | Shop 2C, 38 Craigieburn Road, Craigieburn VIC 3064 |
| Physiotherapy Wollert | 45 Baltrum Drive, Wollert VIC 3750 |
| Physiotherapy Coolaroo | 1550 Pascoe Vale Road, Coolaroo VIC 3048 |
| Physiotherapy Truganina | Shop 4B, 320 Forsyth Road, Truganina VIC 3029 |
When you book, tell our team you’re a WorkSafe or TAC client and have your claim number ready. We can explain how billing works for your claim, including whether any gap applies.
Book your physio appointment online or contact your nearest clinic to start your WorkSafe or TAC physiotherapy.
Keep moving. Keep progressing. Keep In Motion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, if you have a TAC claim number and the treatment is for your accident injuries. In the first 90 days it usually doesn’t need prior approval, as long as a doctor or another health professional recommends it.
Yes, once your WorkSafe claim is accepted. WorkSafe can pay the reasonable costs of physio for your work injury, up to the amounts in its fee schedule.
Not a formal referral. In the first 90 days, physio does need to be recommended by your doctor or another health professional. Bring your TAC claim number to your first visit.
Not always. The clinic can bill the TAC directly with your claim number, or you can pay and claim it back at the TAC rate through myTAC. A gap may apply if fees are above the TAC rate.
Check with the TAC or your WorkSafe agent first. If you don’t want to wait, you can book as a private patient and ask about claiming costs later.
It’s an Allied Health Recovery Management Plan (AHRMP). Your physiotherapist completes it by your fifth consultation to set out your goals and treatment.
The TAC pays aquatic physiotherapy at the same rate as standard physio. For WorkSafe, talk to your agent or physiotherapist about whether hydrotherapy suits your recovery.
Keep In Motion Physio has clinics in Craigieburn, Wollert, Coolaroo and Truganina.
Last updated: October 2026. Sources: TAC – Physiotherapy; WorkSafe Victoria Claims Manual – Physiotherapy.