This year’s theme focuses on ensuring a healthy psychosocial working environment for all, recognising the growing importance of managing psychosocial hazards alongside physical, chemical and biological risks in the workplace.

Psychosocial hazards arise from the way work is designed, organised and managed, as well as from workplace interactions and behaviours. When not effectively managed, these hazards can impact both psychological and physical health and contribute to broader safety risks.

Just like other workplace hazards, psychosocial risks must be identified, assessed and controlled to maintain safe and healthy working environments.

Why psychosocial safety matters

The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy highlight psychosocial risk management as a persistent and emerging priority over the next decade.
A healthy psychosocial working environment supports worker wellbeing, safety, performance and long-term organisational resilience.

The psychosocial working environment is shaped by factors such as workload, working time arrangements, role clarity, support structures and fair, transparent processes. When these factors are well managed, they contribute to safer workplaces and more sustainable outcomes for workers and organisations alike.