Victoria to Enforce New Workplace Mental Health Rules

The Victorian Government is making a significant step forward in workplace health and safety by introducing new regulations targeting psychosocial hazards. Set to come into effect on 1 December 2025, the regulations are designed to ensure that psychological risks in the workplace are treated with the same level of importance as physical hazards, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of occupational safety standards in Australia.

Under the updated Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) framework, employers in Victoria will be required to conduct thorough psychosocial risk assessments, implement appropriate controls, and continuously review and improve their approach to managing mental health risks in the workplace. These changes follow growing evidence that poor workplace culture and unmanaged psychosocial risks contribute significantly to psychological injury claims — which have become some of the fastest growing and most costly claims across Australia.

WorkSafe Victoria, the body responsible for enforcing workplace safety laws in the state, will provide resources and support to help businesses comply with the new obligations. This includes guidance material, training, and access to assessment tools to help identify psychosocial hazards early and implement preventative measures. Industries with high-risk profiles — including healthcare, education, emergency services, and community support sectors — are being strongly encouraged to prepare ahead of the December deadline.

The introduction of these regulations brings Victoria in line with national guidance issued by Safe Work Australia, which released a Model Code of Practice on Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work in 2022. Several jurisdictions, including New South Wales and Queensland, have already implemented similar regulations. Victoria’s move further signals a growing consensus across the country that psychological safety must be embedded into all aspects of workplace design and leadership.

Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC, Danny Pearson, said the changes reflect a modern understanding of what it means to be safe at work. “Everyone deserves a workplace where their mental wellbeing is supported, and these new regulations are about setting clear expectations for employers to take action,” Pearson stated.

The regulatory change has been widely welcomed by mental health advocates and workplace safety professionals. However, some industry groups have called for more practical support for small businesses, warning that without adequate guidance, implementation may prove challenging.

Ultimately, the success of the new regulations will depend not only on compliance, but on cultural change — a shift in how employers view mental health and their responsibility to foster psychologically safe environments.

For more information on the new psychosocial hazard regulations, employers can visit the WorkSafe Victoria website and access updated OHS guidance materials.

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Source:

Victoria to Enforce New Workplace Mental Health Rules - NSCA Foundation, 19th May 2025