Australian Regulatory Bodies
Australia's harmonised WHS framework, combined with proactive state regulators, makes it one of the most advanced jurisdictions globally for psychosocial safety regulation. Here are the key bodies shaping employer obligations.
Safe Work Australia
Develops the national model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws, codes of practice, and guidance materials. Safe Work Australia does not enforce laws — enforcement is the responsibility of state and territory regulators — but its model framework forms the basis of harmonised WHS legislation across most Australian jurisdictions.
Key Actions & Contributions
- •Published the Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work (2022)
- •Led the amendment to Model WHS Regulations to explicitly include psychosocial hazards (2022)
- •Publishes Key Work Health and Safety Statistics covering psychological injury claims
- •Maintains the Australian Workers' Compensation Statistics database
- •Developing guidance on psychosocial risk assessment and control measures
WorkSafe Victoria
Victoria's workplace health and safety regulator. WorkSafe Victoria has been one of the most proactive regulators in Australia on psychosocial safety, operating under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) which has long required employers to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to health — including psychological health.
Key Actions & Contributions
- •Published comprehensive psychosocial hazard guidance and resources including workplace posters
- •Conducts proactive compliance inspections focused on psychosocial hazards
- •Issues Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices for psychosocial risk failures
- •Has pursued prosecutions for failure to manage bullying and psychological hazards
- •Operates the WorkSafe Advisory Service for employer and worker queries
- •Published the 'Exposure to common psychosocial hazards at work' poster (2025)
Comcare
Regulates workplace health and safety for Commonwealth government employees and certain licensed corporations. Comcare administers the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988. It is a critical source of data on psychological injury claims, which represent a disproportionately high share of Commonwealth workers' compensation claims.
Key Actions & Contributions
- •Publishes detailed statistics on psychological injury claims in the Commonwealth jurisdiction
- •Reports that psychological injury claims represent ~10% of all claims but ~30% of total costs
- •Leads research into early intervention and return-to-work programs for psychological injuries
- •Provides guidance on managing psychosocial hazards under the WHS Act
- •Conducts regulatory activities and inspections of Commonwealth workplaces
SafeWork NSW
NSW's primary WHS regulator, operating under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW). SafeWork NSW has adopted the psychosocial hazard provisions from the model WHS Regulations and has been actively building compliance and enforcement capability.
Key Actions & Contributions
- •Adopted amended WHS Regulations with explicit psychosocial hazard provisions
- •Developed sector-specific guidance for managing psychosocial risks
- •Conducts proactive compliance campaigns in high-risk sectors
- •Provides advisory services and resources for employers and workers
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland
Queensland's WHS regulator under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld). Queensland was the first Australian state to introduce industrial manslaughter laws (2017) and has been active in building psychosocial safety frameworks alongside its strong physical safety enforcement tradition.
Key Actions & Contributions
- •Adopted psychosocial hazard regulations under the model WHS framework
- •Published the Managing psychosocial hazards at work Code of Practice
- •Enforces industrial manslaughter provisions — the strongest penalties in Australia
- •Runs employer awareness programs on psychosocial risk management
WorkSafe Western Australia
Western Australia's workplace safety regulator. WA operates under its own Work Health and Safety Act 2020, harmonised with the national model laws. WA has recently updated its regulations to explicitly address psychosocial hazards.
Key Actions & Contributions
- •Adopted the WHS Act 2020 harmonised with the national model
- •Developing psychosocial hazard guidance and compliance tools
- •Building inspector capability for psychosocial risk assessment
Other Key Bodies
Beyond the primary WHS regulators, several other government and regulatory bodies play important roles in addressing psychosocial safety:
Fair Work Commission
Handles anti-bullying orders under the Fair Work Act 2009. Workers can apply for a stop-bullying order, creating an additional regulatory mechanism alongside WHS laws.
Australian Human Rights Commission
Investigates complaints of discrimination and harassment including sexual harassment. The Respect@Work report (2020) led to significant law reform including positive duties on employers.
State Workers' Compensation Authorities
Each state and territory has its own workers' compensation authority (e.g., WorkCover NSW, WorkCover QLD) that manages claims for work-related psychological injuries.
Mental Health Commissions
The National Mental Health Commission and state equivalents provide guidance on mentally healthy workplaces and publish the Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces.