Frequently Asked Questions

  • An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is a comprehensive psychiatric assessment conducted by a specialist who is not involved in your ongoing treatment and is not associated with your employer/lawyer etc.


    At ZK Medicolegal, our psychiatrists provide independent, objective opinions about your mental health, including diagnosis, treatment needs, work capacity, prognosis, and causation in the context of legal, insurance, or compensation matters.

  • A Whole Person Impairment (WPI) assessment is used to quantify the impact of a psychiatric condition on your overall functioning.

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    Different jurisdictions across Australia use different guidelines to assess psychiatric impairment. Our psychiatrists conduct WPI assessments in accordance with the specific guidelines required in each state or territory. These include, for example:

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    • New South Wales (NSW): NSW Workers Compensation Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (based on the AMA 5 for psychiatric impairment)

    • Victoria (VIC): GEPIC (Guidelines for the Evaluation of Psychiatric Impairment for Clinicians)

    • Queensland (QLD): Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (GEPI), which is based on AMA 5 with state-specific modifications

    • South Australia (SA): Return to Work SA Impairment Assessment Guidelines (which use AMA 5)

    • Western Australia (WA): WorkCover WA Guides for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (which adopt AMA 5)

    • Tasmania (TAS): WorkCover Tasmania Guidelines for the Assessment of Permanent Impairment (which use AMA 5)

    • Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Northern Territory (NT): Generally use AMA 5-based methods as required under their respective workers’ compensation schemes

    This ensures that your assessment is completed in line with the legal and regulatory requirements of the relevant jurisdiction.

  • An Initial Liability Claim (ILC) assessment is a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) assessment that evaluates how a service-related mental health condition affects a veteran’s lifestyle and daily functioning.


    We provide ILC assessments in line with MRCA, SRCA, and VEA legislation and DVA CLIK guidelines, helping determine the level of compensation and support entitlements for current and former serving members of the Australian Defence Force. These assessments are provided at no cost to our veterans.

  • To get the most out of your assessment with ZK Medicolegal:

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    • Send all relevant medical, psychological, and service records (including past psychiatric reports, GP notes, and treatment summaries).

    • Write down key events, symptoms, and timelines to help you recall important information during the assessment.

    • Arrive on time or log in early if attending via telehealth, ensuring that you have good internet connect and your mic and camera are working.

    • Take any regular medications as usual unless instructed otherwise.

  • Yes. ZK Medicolegal offers secure video consultations via Coviu, a privacy-compliant telehealth platform widely used in the Australian health sector.


    Telehealth assessments are available for clients Australia-wide, including those in regional or remote areas, and are conducted with the same thoroughness as in-person appointments.

  • In most cases, the referring party (such as an insurer, legal firm, employer, or government body) pays for the assessment.


    You will be informed before your appointment if you are personally responsible for any fees. ZK Medicolegal does not charge clients directly unless prior arrangements have been made.

  • No, not automatically.


    At ZK Medicolegal, our assessments are independent and separate from your ongoing treatment. The completed report is provided only to the referring party (such as an insurer, employer, legal firm, or government agency).

    If you would like your treating doctor to receive a copy, you can request this directly from the referring party after the assessment and it is up to the referring parties policies, if they will release the report.

  • Our typical turnaround time is 2 weeks from the date of assessment, depending on the complexity of the case and the volume of records to review.

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    DVA ILC assessment reports are completed and submitted within 5 days of the assessment. 


    Urgent assessments may be accommodated on request, and we will always confirm expected timeframes when accepting a referral.

  • Your psychiatrist will:

    • Review your background information and medical records

    • Conduct a structured clinical interview (usually 1–2 hours)

    • Ask questions about your symptoms, history, daily functioning, and treatment

    • Possibly use standardised questionnaires or assessment tools. 
      This is not a treatment session — it is a one-off evaluation to answer the referrer’s questions objectively.

  • Because our role is independent, we do not provide treatment or feedback sessions about the report.


    However, you can request a copy of the report or a summary of the findings directly from the referring party, who is responsible for managing your case.

  • Yes, you may bring a support person (family member, friend, advocate) if it helps you feel comfortable.


    They can attend with your consent but usually will not be involved in answering questions unless the psychiatrist requests collateral information.