October is National Safe Work Month across Australia, with Safe Work Australia running its 2026 campaign under the theme “Safe Work is for Life.”

The theme is designed to emphasise that work health and safety extends beyond preventing immediate physical injury — it encompasses long-term health, quality of life, and workers’ ability to remain healthy and working into the future. The campaign’s four weekly focus areas are: “For Life” (why WHS matters), “For Health” (what WHS protects), “For the Future” (long-term impacts of workplace harm), and “For All” (action across every workplace).

Week 3 (13–19 October), focused on long-term health impacts, aligns with the release of the new Key WHS Statistics report and the Best Practice Review final report — providing timely evidence to anchor workplace conversations about why ongoing investment in safety culture matters.

This year’s campaign also incorporates World Mental Health Day (10 October), with Safe Work Australia using the occasion to spotlight psychosocial health and safety as a core WHS issue. Employers can access free activity kits, posters, digital signage, and social media tiles through the Safe Work Australia website. Visit safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe-work-month to access all campaign resources.