SafeWork NSW has deployed 20 new psychosocial-focused inspectors as part of its largest ever expansion of the inspectorate, with the move signalling a sharper enforcement focus on workplace mental health across New South Wales.
The new inspectors are part of a broader uplift of 51 additional inspectors — a more than 12 per cent increase to active inspectors statewide. The expansion forms part of the NSW Government’s record investment of $127.7 million over four years into SafeWork NSW, and sits within a wider $344 million Workplace Mental Health package aimed at strengthening mental health support and injury prevention strategies.
The new inspectors bring expertise across psychology, workers compensation, anti-bullying, youth mentoring, and trauma-informed approaches. Their role will include issuing on-the-spot fines, responding to reported psychosocial incidents, developing dedicated resources, and serving as a first point of contact for mental health-related workplace concerns.
SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer said the expansion reflected a growing recognition that psychological harm is as serious as physical harm. “Recognising and managing both physical and psychological risks is an essential part of creating safe, healthy and productive workplaces,” she said. “The new psychosocial-focused inspectors will strengthen early detection of psychological risks at places of employment and enable timely interventions to prevent harm before it occurs.”
NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said the initiative was fundamentally about prevention. “When psychosocial hazards are addressed early, we see fewer injuries, fewer disputes, and better outcomes for workers and employers,” she said.
Employers across NSW are reminded that psychosocial hazards — including excessive workload, bullying, harassment, and poor role clarity — must be managed under the WHS Regulation using the hierarchy of controls, in the same way as physical hazards. Proactive compliance visits will form a core part of the expanded inspectorate’s activity.
