At a glance
- SafeWork NSW released its 2026–2027 Regulatory Statement (Regulatory Statement), released on 1 July 2026, identifies the management of psychosocial risks as one of its four key compliance and enforcement priorities.
- SafeWork NSW will focus on addressing workplace risk factors that contribute to psychological harm and harmful behaviours, including bullying and harassment.
- The regulator will support a whole-of-government approach to preventing psychological harm, with particular attention on high-risk workplaces and occupations and the use of higher-order controls.
- Preventing violence and aggression directed at frontline and customer service workers will also be a key enforcement focus.
- The Regulatory Statement serves as a reminder for employers to review their psychosocial risk management arrangements and ensure compliance with work health and safety obligations and enforceable Codes of Practice.
On 1 July 2026, SafeWork NSW released its Regulatory Statement, outlining its compliance and enforcement priorities for the coming year.
The Regulatory Statement identifies four key priority areas, including the management of psychosocial risks in the workplace.
In relation to psychosocial hazards, SafeWork NSW has indicated it will focus on:
- Addressing risk factors that contribute to psychological harm or harmful behaviour, including bullying and harassment.
- Supporting a whole of government approach to prevent psychological harm, focusing on high-risk workplaces, occupations and use of higher order controls.
- Preventing violence and aggression towards frontline and customer service workers.
The Regulatory Statement serves as a clear reminder for employers to review their psychosocial risk management frameworks, consultation processes and existing control measures, and to ensure ongoing compliance with applicable work health and safety obligations and Codes of Practice (which from 1 July 2026 are enforceable as minimum standards for workplace compliance).
Given SafeWork NSW's renewed focus in this area, employers should proactively assess whether their current systems are sufficient to identify, eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks in the workplace.
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