October is Safe Work Month in Australia, with many organisations choosing this time to reinforce their WHS safety messages with workers. But keeping pace with the amount of legislative change reshaping WHS in Australian workplaces can be a challenge for many of us! In recent years we have had an unprecedented amount of change including:
- Industrial manslaughter provisions
- Psychosocial hazards and risks in workplaces
- Respect at Work & its correlation to psychological safety
- The Right to Disconnect, as well as
- the increased focus on WHS for Work from Home & Remote Work.
In addition, a number of new Model Codes of Practice has been introduced including:
- Managing Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace
- Healthcare and the Social Assistance Industry
- Managing the Risk of Fatigue at Work
- Sexual and Gender–Based Harassment
Many state-based jurisdictions have passed laws requiring organisations to comply with the requirements contained within a Code of Practice, including New South Wales and Queensland (see our earlier blog of 4 August 2025).
But just as you are catching your breath, here are some additional legislated updates:
In NSW, the WHS Regulation 2025 came into effect on 22 August 2025. Whilst it largely follows the 2017 Regulation, there is one significant change - the management of psychosocial risks has been strengthened, and these risks must now be managed by applying the Hierarchy of Controls. This brings psychosocial risks into line with other WHS risks, which must be managed using the Hierarchy of Controls. It also aligns NSW with Queensland, who already have this legal requirement.
In Queensland, 4 new Codes of Practice have been introduced, mainly related to electrical safety for workplaces, the rural industry and the operation of solar farms – and as stated above, under QLD legislation, compliance with Codes of Practice is mandatory.
In the Northern Territory, WHS is managed following the national uniform legislation for the WHS Act & Regulation, with the NT Safety Regulator now inviting feedback on WHS laws for workplaces. This consultation period closes on 3 November. Following that, watch this space for additional change in the NT!
What Actions Can You Take Right Now to support WHS at your workplace?
- Review your risk assessments and WHS policies to ensure they comply with the Codes of Practice relevant to your workplace
- Subscribe to your state based safety regulator’s news & updates
- Book a free WHS consultation with the team at Mindful Risk to discuss WHS support for your organisation
Let’s make sure we don’t just focus on WHS during Safe Work Month!!
Have a great week,
Bronwyn