Four years after Victoria became the first state to promise stronger protections for psychological health at work, that commitment has moved one step closer to finally becoming law.
Deputy Premier and Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC Ben Carroll announced on 30 September 2025 that the new Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (Psychological Health) 2025 have been made and will commence on 1 December. These regulations supplement the existing OHS Act and its Regulations, placing stronger responsibilities on employers to identify, manage, and reduce mental health risks in the workplace.
The new regulations recognise that psychosocial hazards are just as important as physical hazards, creating new obligations for Victorian employers to identify and manage risks associated with psychosocial hazards in their workplaces and implement higher order controls.
Psychosocial hazards such as bullying, sexual harassment, aggression or violence, and exposure to traumatic events or content continue to cause significant harm in Victorian workplaces.
Currently 17% of WorkCover claims are mental injuries for the year 2024-25 a number that is only predicted to increase.
The new Regulations reflect recommendations made by the Boland Review into the model WHS laws, the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health.
The changes align with Regulations introduced in other Australian states and territories and reinforce the existing duty of employers to provide a working environment that is safe and free from risks to health, including psychological health.
A Compliance Code and supporting resources is available to help employers understand how to meet their duties to control psychosocial hazards under the Regulations. This includes prevention plan templates for employers to use to help identify actions they’ll take to manage these risks.
Deputy Premier and Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC Ben Carroll said, “No one should have to deal with behaviour like bullying, harassment or aggression on the job. These regulations ensure that employers are clear about what they need to do to provide a psychologically safe workplace.”
For more information about psychological health and the new regulations, visit worksafe.vic.gov.au.
Read more: Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025