SafeWork NSW Launches Psychosocial Advisory Service as Workplace Reports Double
SafeWork NSW has launched a dedicated Psychosocial Advisory Service to help employers and workers address rising workplace mental health hazards.
The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by SafeWork NSW.
Service Overview
SafeWork NSW has launched a dedicated Psychosocial Advisory Service developed in partnership with the Black Dog Institute. The service connects workers and employers with trained advisors to help identify, prevent, and respond to workplace hazards including bullying, harassment, work-related stress, and mental harm.
According to SafeWork NSW, the initiative forms part of the state government's $344 million Workplace Mental Health package and is supported by a $127.7 million regulatory capability investment that includes 20 additional specialised psychosocial inspectors.
Incident Trends and Enforcement
SafeWork NSW reported receiving 3,145 psychosocial-related requests for service between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, accounting for 20.5% of all requests received, compared to 10% in the 2021–22 period.
The service rollout follows a statewide compliance campaign during which inspectors visited more than 200 workplaces across multiple industries and issued over 80 improvement notices related to psychosocial hazard management. The launch also coincides with reforms to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 that took effect on 1 July 2026, making approved codes of practice legally binding across New South Wales.
Operational Structure
The advisory service provides support via phone inquiries, online submissions, and the regulator's SpeakUp platform. Staff received trauma-informed training and mental health crisis response instruction through Lifeline Northern Beaches. The service also uses data-driven triage systems to prioritize time-sensitive reports involving suicidal risk, bullying, or harassment.
Agency Statement
SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer stated,
"The data shows a clear increase in both reports of psychosocial workplace issues and requests for support, highlighting growing awareness of these risks and the need for early intervention across NSW. Prevention and early intervention remain critical to meeting work health and safety obligations and SafeWork NSW encourages all employers and workers to seek advice and access the PAS before issues escalate and cause harm."
