NSW launches psychosocial advisory service as requests surge

New South Wales has launched a Psychosocial Advisory Service for workers and employers as psychosocial requests to SafeWork NSW have more than doubled over five years.

Developed by SafeWork NSW with the Black Dog Institute, the service is intended to help people identify and address workplace issues including bullying, harassment, work-related stress and mental harm. It provides direct access to trained advisers through the existing 13 10 50 hotline, online enquiries and the SpeakUp web interface.

State ministers said the service is designed as an early intervention measure, allowing complaints to be addressed before they develop into serious harm or formal enforcement action. Advisers are trauma-trained and can refer people to external mental health support where needed, while a triage system is designed to prioritise severe or time-sensitive incidents, including those involving suicidal risk.

The launch follows a sharp rise in psychosocial matters reaching the state regulator. Between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, SafeWork NSW received 3,145 psychosocial-related requests for service, representing 20.5% of all requests. In 2021-22, the figure was 10%.

The service forms part of a broader package of state spending on workplace mental health and regulation. The New South Wales government has allocated AUD $127.7 million to expand SafeWork NSW, including 20 additional specialised psychosocial inspectors, as part of a wider AUD $344 million workplace mental health programme.

Compliance push

The launch follows SafeWork NSW's largest psychosocial compliance campaign to date. Inspectors visited more than 200 medium and large workplaces in industries identified as having higher rates and greater severity of psychosocial harm, issuing more than 80 improvement notices related to psychosocial hazards and risk management.

During those visits, inspectors used a structured checklist to assess how businesses identified, managed and monitored psychosocial risks in practice. SafeWork NSW has also worked with Lifeline Northern Beaches to provide staff training in mental health, crisis response and psychosocial risk management.

The advisory service has been introduced alongside changes to the state's work health and safety regime. Reforms to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, which took effect on 1 July 2026, made codes of practice legally binding in New South Wales, including the Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practise.

That change means employers must comply with relevant codes or risk breaching the Act. The state government said the reforms put New South Wales in the strongest position in the country on the legal status of codes of practice.

"Modern workplaces present modern risks. The Minns Labour Government is taking strong action to support the health and wellbeing of workers. The Psychosocial Advisory Service will help to keep workers safe and support businesses with the tools they need to address psychosocial risks and prevent potential harms. With requests for service to SafeWork more than doubling over the past five years, this service is part of the NSW Government's commitment to building safer workplaces, ensuring workers come home safely to their families both physically and mentally," said Sophie Cotsis, Minister for Industrial Relations.

Rose Jackson, Minister for Mental Health, linked the measure to the government's wider mental health agenda. "The Minns Labour Government believes that anyone who is struggling with their mental health should be able to access the help that they need. The Psychosocial Advisory Service will be an important resource for workers who may be struggling, and a great tool for employers who want to create safe workplaces. The launch of the Psychosocial Advisory Service builds on the work of our landmark Suicide Prevention Act 2025, which is about taking a whole-of-government response to mental health and suicide prevention," Jackson said.

For employers, the government is presenting the service as a practical source of advice rather than only a formal complaints channel. Small business groups said matters such as bullying and mental harm can be difficult to navigate for owners without specialist human resources or safety staff.

"Small businesses take the health and safety of their people seriously, but psychosocial risks can be difficult to navigate, particularly for owners who don't have dedicated HR or safety teams. That's why the Psychosocial Advisory Service is a welcome step. Giving SMEs access to clear, practical advice - and someone they can turn to when they have questions - will help businesses tackle issues early and with confidence. For small business, looking after your people and running a successful business go hand in hand. The more practical support we can give SMEs to create safe, healthy workplaces, the better for everyone," said Dan Hunter, Chief Executive Officer, Business NSW.

SafeWork NSW said the service is intended to help workers seek support before issues escalate. "The new Psychosocial Advisory Service is more than just a hotline. It offers in-depth conversations and practical, structured advice for those who need it most. This service ensures workers are not left to face psychosocial issues alone or forced to wait until problems escalate beyond control. 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. The launch of the Psychosocial Advisory Service demonstrates SafeWork NSW's commitment to supporting employers and workers to identify, manage and prevent psychosocial risks, creating healthier and safer workplaces. 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," said Janet Schorer, SafeWork Commissioner.