Australia
Psychosocial regulation and enforcement tracker
This page tracks psychosocial regulations, codes of practice and guidance in Australia, with the date for each instrument and aggregate enforcement figures. Businesses are expected to manage psychosocial risks.
This tracker summarises public information and is not legal advice.
Timeline
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| Jurisdiction | Instrument | Type | Date | What the date means | Regulator | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National (model) | Model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work Has legal effect only where a jurisdiction approves it | Model code of practice | July 2022 | Published (July 2022) | Safe Work Australia | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| NSW | Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work | Code of practice | May 2021 | Published (May 2021) | SafeWork NSW | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| NSW | Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017: psychosocial risk provisions Since remade as the WHS Regulation 2025 | Regulation | 1 October 2022 | Commenced | SafeWork NSW | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| NSW | Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (remade 2017 Regulation; strengthened psychosocial provisions) SafeWork NSW says psychosocial risks are to be managed using the hierarchy of controls. Cross-check: s2 of the Regulation on legislation.nsw.gov.au | Regulation | 22 August 2025 | Commenced (Part 8A.4 on 1 Oct 2025, not psychosocial) | SafeWork NSW | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| NSW | WHS Act 2011 (NSW) s26A: approved codes to be followed or matched Businesses follow the code or manage risks to an equivalent or higher standard | Act amendment | 1 July 2026 | Commenced | SafeWork NSW | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| NSW | Psychosocial compliance operation (six weeks; largest yet) Includes repeat visits on notices from the May-June 2026 program | Regulator campaign | 9 October 2026 | Started | SafeWork NSW | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| VIC | Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 | Regulation | 1 December 2025 | Commenced | WorkSafe Victoria | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| VIC | Compliance code: Psychological health (Edition 1) Practical guidance; not mandatory | Compliance code | 1 December 2025 | Took effect | WorkSafe Victoria | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| QLD | Work Health and Safety (Psychosocial Risks) Amendment Regulation 2022 | Regulation | 1 April 2023 | Commenced | WorkSafe Queensland | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| QLD | Managing the risk of psychosocial hazards at work Code of Practice 2022 | Code of practice | 1 April 2023 | Commenced | WorkSafe Queensland | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| QLD (national tool) | People at Work survey: registrations closed / surveys closed / platform closed Earlier dates from https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/psychosocial-risk-assessment-tools | Tool decommissioned | 2 October 2026 | Platform closed (registrations ended 1 Jun 2026; surveys 1 Jul 2026) | WorkSafe Queensland / WorkSafe ACT | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| WA | Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022: psychosocial provisions (regs 55A-55D) | Regulation | 24 December 2022 | Commenced | WorkSafe WA | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| WA | Psychosocial hazards in the workplace: Code of practice Date shown on WorkSafe WA's publication page | Code of practice | 26 August 2022 | Published (WorkSafe WA publication page) | WorkSafe WA | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| SA | Work Health and Safety (Psychosocial Risks) Amendment Regulations 2023 | Regulation | 25 December 2023 | Commenced | SafeWork SA | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| SA | Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice SafeWork SA news, 20 Feb 2026: SA code based on the model code with further SA consultation | Code of practice | 19 February 2026 | Commenced | SafeWork SA | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| TAS | Work Health and Safety Regulations 2022 (psychosocial provisions) | Regulation | 12 December 2022 | Commenced | WorkSafe Tasmania | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| TAS | Managing psychosocial hazards at work | Code of practice | 4 January 2023 | Took effect | WorkSafe Tasmania | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| NT | 2023 psychosocial amendments to the WHS Regulations | Regulation | 1 July 2023 | Commenced | NT WorkSafe | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| NT | Managing psychosocial hazards at work | Code of practice | 23 May 2024 | Approved (current version) | NT WorkSafe | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| ACT | WHS (Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice) Approval 2023 | Code of practice | 27 November 2023 | Commenced | WorkSafe ACT | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| ACT | Work Health and Safety Amendment Regulation 2023 (No 1), SL2023-19 (new Division 3.2.11 Psychosocial risks) ACT keeps the hierarchy of controls for psychosocial risks (s2 commencement clause) | Regulation | 27 November 2023 | Psychosocial provisions commenced (made 24 Aug 2023; notified 28 Aug 2023) | WorkSafe ACT | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Commonwealth | Work Health and Safety Amendment (Managing Psychosocial Risk and Other Measures) Regulations 2022 Confirmed by Comcare: https://www.comcare.gov.au/about/news-events/news/new-commonwealth-whs-laws | Regulation | 1 April 2023 | Psychosocial provisions commenced (Sch 1 Pt 1 Div 1) | Comcare | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| Commonwealth | Work Health and Safety (Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work) Code of Practice 2024 | Code of practice | 2 November 2024 | Commenced | Comcare | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
| ISO | ISO 45003:2021 Psychological health and safety at work: guidelines for managing psychosocial risks Guidance only; our wording is 'informed by ISO 45003 guidance' | Voluntary guidance | 2021 | Published | ISO / Standards New Zealand | View source | Verified 26 Oct 2026 |
What changed recently
These rows were corrected or added in the 26 October 2026 check.
- 19 February 2026. SA: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice. Commenced.
- 22 August 2025. NSW: Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (remade 2017 Regulation; strengthened psychosocial provisions). Commenced (Part 8A.4 on 1 Oct 2025, not psychosocial).
- 27 November 2023. ACT: Work Health and Safety Amendment Regulation 2023 (No 1), SL2023-19 (new Division 3.2.11 Psychosocial risks). Psychosocial provisions commenced (made 24 Aug 2023; notified 28 Aug 2023).
- 1 April 2023. Commonwealth: Work Health and Safety Amendment (Managing Psychosocial Risk and Other Measures) Regulations 2022. Psychosocial provisions commenced (Sch 1 Pt 1 Div 1).
- 26 August 2022. WA: Psychosocial hazards in the workplace: Code of practice. Published (WorkSafe WA publication page).
Enforcement at a glance
This tracker summarises public information and is not legal advice.
Figures are totals published by the regulator. Improvement notices are issued by inspectors and are not convictions or court findings.
| Regulator | Period | Figure | What was counted | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SafeWork NSW | May-Jun 2026 | More than 200 | Workplaces visited in SafeWork NSW's psychosocial compliance program | SafeWork NSW media release, 9 Oct 2026 |
| SafeWork NSW | May-Jun 2026 | More than 80 | Improvement notices relating to psychosocial hazards and risk management | SafeWork NSW media release, 9 Oct 2026 |
| SafeWork NSW | Reported 9 Oct 2026 (period not stated) | 20.5% | Share of requests for service raising psychosocial harm | SafeWork NSW media release, 9 Oct 2026 |
| SafeWork NSW | 2026 | 20 | Psychosocial-focused inspectors added | SafeWork NSW media release, 9 Oct 2026 |
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Questions
When did Victoria's psychological health regulations start?
The Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 commenced on 1 December 2025.
When was the NSW code of practice on managing psychosocial hazards published?
The Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work was published in May 2021.
When did Queensland's psychosocial risks regulation commence?
The Work Health and Safety (Psychosocial Risks) Amendment Regulation 2022 commenced on 1 April 2023.
What does the NSW change on 1 July 2026 mean?
Section 26A of the WHS Act 2011 (NSW) commenced on 1 July 2026. Businesses follow the code or manage risks to an equivalent or higher standard.
When did the People at Work platform close?
The platform closed on 2 October 2026 (registrations ended 1 Jun 2026; surveys 1 Jul 2026).
How this tracker is kept
Primary sources are used where a primary source is available. A secondary source is marked in the table when one is used.
ISO 45003 is voluntary guidance. WellbeingSolutions is informed by ISO 45003 guidance.
The tracker is checked each month on the opening business day, and within two working days of a regulator announcement.
To report an error, email hello@wellbeingsolutions.co.