Australia
Psychosocial hazards at work in Australia: what employers are expected to do
Short answer
Work health and safety laws in every Australian state and territory (OHS laws in Victoria) now spell out psychosocial hazards. Employers are expected to identify and manage them.
What counts as a psychosocial hazard
In plain words, a psychosocial hazard is something about the work, or about how people are treated at work, that can harm mental health.
The model WHS Regulations r 55A describe it as a hazard arising from the design or management of work, the work environment, plant, or workplace interactions and behaviours, that may cause psychological harm.
Examples include:
- workload
- fatigue and shift work
- low role clarity
- customer aggression
- bullying and harassment
- remote or isolated work
- traumatic events
State by state
| Jurisdiction | Regulator | What applies | Start date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model WHS | Safe Work Australia | Regs Part 3.2 Div 11, r 55A–55D, and the Model Code of Practice 2022. | Model instrument. Each state and territory sets its own start date. | Model WHS lawsModel Code of Practice 2022 |
| NSW | SafeWork NSW | Psychosocial provisions, now in the WHS Regulation 2025 Div 11, where r 55C applies the hierarchy of controls. From 1 Jul 2026, s 26A: businesses are expected to follow approved codes of practice, or manage the risk to an equal or higher standard. | 1 Oct 2022. s 26A from 1 Jul 2026. | Code of practice: managing psychosocial hazards at work |
| QLD | WHSQ | Managing the risk of psychosocial hazards at work Code of Practice 2022. Approved codes are followed or matched by an equal-or-higher method. | 1 Apr 2023. | Managing the risk of psychosocial hazards at work Code of Practice 2022 |
| WA | WorkSafe WA | WHS (General) Regulations 2022 Div 11, with the Psychosocial hazards in the workplace code (2022). | 24 Dec 2022. | Psychosocial hazards in the workplace code (2022) |
| SA | SafeWork SA | Regulations, and SA’s own code of practice. | Regs from 25 Dec 2023. Code from 19 Feb 2026. | SafeWork SA: psychological hazards |
| TAS | WorkSafe Tasmania | Regulations and a code of practice. | Regs from 12 Dec 2022. Code from 4 Jan 2023. | Code of practice: managing psychosocial hazards at work |
| ACT | WorkSafe ACT | Psychosocial hazard provisions in the work health and safety laws. | 27 Nov 2023. | WorkSafe ACT: psychosocial hazards |
| NT | NT WorkSafe | Psychosocial hazard provisions in the work health and safety laws. | 1 Jul 2023. | NT WorkSafe: 2023 psychosocial hazard changes |
| VIC | WorkSafe Victoria (OHS) | Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025. Employers are expected to identify psychosocial hazards, eliminate or reduce the risks so far as reasonably practicable, and review controls. | 1 Dec 2025. | Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 |
What regulators are checking now
- SafeWork NSW started its largest-ever six-week psychosocial inspection operation on 9 Oct 2026. In May–June its inspectors made 200+ visits and issued 80+ improvement notices. SafeWork NSW media release.
- The NSW 2026–27 Regulatory Statement names psychosocial risks as a priority, including violence and aggression towards frontline and customer service workers. SafeWork NSW: 2026–27 Regulatory Statement.
- Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 have applied from 1 Dec 2025. Read the Victorian regulations.
How WellbeingSolutions supports you
- SMS check-ins to hear from every shift.
- A confidential psychosocial risk assessment, informed by ISO 45003 guidance.
- Leadership reporting.
- AI-4U support navigation, 24/7, as part of the paid service.
The free Australian pilot is SMS check-ins only. AI-4U support navigation, 24/7 is not part of that pilot. See pricing for the paid service. The assessment itself is described on the psychosocial risk assessment page.
Questions we hear
Does this apply to small businesses?
Yes. These laws are not limited to large employers. In every Australian state and territory, employers are expected to identify and manage psychosocial hazards, including in a small team. Check your regulator for what applies to your workplace.
Is Victoria different?
Yes. Victoria uses occupational health and safety laws, rather than the model work health and safety laws. The Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 started on 1 Dec 2025. Employers are expected to identify psychosocial hazards, eliminate or reduce the risks so far as reasonably practicable, and review controls.
Is ISO 45003 something we have to follow?
No. ISO 45003 is voluntary guidance. Our confidential psychosocial risk assessment is informed by that guidance. This assessment is not a certificate, and using it is not a statement that a legal duty has been met.
What does the free pilot include?
In Australia the free pilot is SMS check-ins only: a free 2-week SMS check-in pilot for up to 10 staff. AI-4U support navigation, 24/7 is part of the paid service, not the pilot.