NSW forum puts public sector worker safety in focus

The Risk Education Express (REX) People and Risk forum at Town Hall will cover resources designed to protect NSW Government employees, assets and services. The government employs more than 450,000 people, making it Australia’s largest employer.

As psychological injury claims continue to increase, the forum will examine the whole-of-government approach to preventing injuries and harm, alongside employees’ physical and psychological wellbeing. Agencies will receive updates on best practice in mental health, workplace safety and return to work.

The NSW Government’s $344 million Workplace Mental Health Package includes $127.7 million to strengthen SafeWork NSW’s work on psychosocial hazards, compliance and enforcement of safe work practices. That investment includes 51 new inspector positions, with 20 focused on psychosocial matters.

The government has also committed $20 million to help icare improve support for workers with psychological injuries. At the forum, icare will explain how it uses data to target injury prevention initiatives in public sector workplaces and sectors with the highest injury risks.

Agencies will also hear about icare programs aimed at reducing psychological injury risks for customer-facing frontline staff, including a 12-week Psychosocial Risk bootcamp.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said the forum reflected the government’s commitment to safer public sector workplaces, better return-to-work rates and improved workers compensation outcomes for workers and employers.

icare Group Executive of General Insurance and Care Sarah Johnson said icare was working with agencies and partners to build capability, strengthen early intervention and support safer, healthier public sector workplaces. She described educational forums delivered through the REX team as an important part of putting that work into practice.

SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer welcomed collaboration with icare on the initiative. She noted that the organisations already worked together on projects including the silica worker register and the Paralympian Speaker Program.

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