NSW Expands Psychosocial Inspectors to Strengthen Mental Health at Work

The Minns Labor Government has announced a major expansion of SafeWork NSW’s capacity to address mental health and psychosocial risks, with a new group of mental health–focussed inspectors now supporting workers and businesses across the State.

SafeWork NSW is receiving 51 additional inspectors in total, including 20 specialists in psychosocial health. This represents an increase of more than 12 per cent in active inspectors and is the largest uplift in the regulator’s history.

The recruitment drive is funded through the NSW Government’s record $127.7 million investment over four years in SafeWork NSW to improve work health and safety outcomes. It also forms a key component of the broader $344 million Workplace Mental Health package, aimed at strengthening mental health supports and injury prevention strategies in NSW workplaces.

The move underlines the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to helping employers and workers understand, manage and prevent psychological harm, with a strong emphasis on early intervention and robust WHS management systems, policies and procedures.

The new inspectors bring expertise in psychology, workers compensation, anti-bullying practice, youth mentoring and trauma-informed approaches. Their skills will be applied to identifying, preventing and managing psychosocial risks in a wide range of industries and work environments.

By expanding the inspectorate, the NSW Government aims to prevent hazards before they result in psychological injury and workers compensation claims. SafeWork NSW already conducts hundreds of proactive visits each year to address psychosocial safety, and this uplift will enable more targeted, early engagement with workplaces.

The strengthened inspectorate enhances SafeWork NSW’s nation-leading focus on psychological health at work. Inspectors will support businesses to improve their WHS management systems, develop appropriate policies, and implement Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) where relevant to high-risk tasks involving potential exposure to trauma or violence. Employers seeking to formalise or upgrade their documentation can also access structured WHS management systems and policies through providers such as Bluesafe.

In addition to the inspector uplift, the NSW Government is establishing a Psychosocial Advisory Service to provide tailored advice to workers and business owners on managing psychosocial hazards and building mentally healthy workplaces.

NSW was the first jurisdiction in Australia to implement a psychosocial-specific Code of Practice covering all psychosocial hazards and all workplaces. This framework promotes better work design to prevent psychosocial hazards from arising, rather than relying solely on reactive measures after harm has occurred.

The initiative reinforces SafeWork NSW’s regulatory priority to manage psychosocial risks at work, including sexual harassment. Other common psychosocial hazards include excessive workloads, exposure to traumatic events, bullying, harassment and sustained work-related stress.

Workers who have concerns about health and safety, including psychosocial risks, can raise issues anonymously with SafeWork NSW by calling 13 10 50 or via the Speak Up Save Lives online reporting platform.

Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis, said the expanded psychosocial inspector cohort would support both workers and businesses in meeting their obligations and fostering safer workplace cultures.

“The new psychosocial inspectors are not just supporting workers, but also businesses, to make sure they understand their obligations, and know how to create a culture of safety in the workplace.

“This is about prevention. When psychosocial hazards are addressed early, we see fewer injuries, fewer disputes, and better outcomes for workers and employers.

“These inspectors are one part of what our Government is doing to make sure that we have mentally healthy workplaces across the state.

“I am very proud that NSW is leading the way with these specialised inspectors who have incredible skills and experience in mental health.”

SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer highlighted the importance of treating psychological harm with the same seriousness as physical harm in WHS management.

“One of the most significant developments in work health and safety is the growing recognition that psychological harms are as damaging as physical harm.

“Recognising and managing both physical and psychological risks is an essential part of creating safe, healthy and productive workplaces.

“The new psychosocial focused inspectors will strengthen early detection of psychological risks at places of employment and enable timely interventions to prevent harm before it occurs.”

The expanded inspectorate, the psychosocial Code of Practice, and the new advisory services together represent a comprehensive approach to modern WHS, encouraging employers to integrate psychosocial risk management into their existing systems, SWMS and organisational policies to build safer, more resilient workplaces across NSW.