Incident notification requirements under the model WHS Act have changed.
The changes will only apply once they are adopted under local WHS laws.
Employers must check with their local WHS regulator before making changes to notification systems or reporting practices.
Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), such as employers, must notify their WHS regulator immediately after becoming aware of workplace deaths, serious work-related injuries, illnesses and dangerous incidents.
In December 2025, Safe Work Australia published amendments to the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, along with updated guidance on notification requirements.
Under the updated model WHS Act, notification duties extend to:
- dangerous incidents involving mobile plant and falls
- violent incidents, including sexual assault
- work-related suicide and attempted suicide, and
- extended worker absences (15+ calendar days).
While the model WHS Act has been updated, the changes will only take legal effect once they are adopted into local WHS laws. This process may take some time, and each jurisdiction will determine its own implementation timeline.
Please check with your local WHS regulator before making changes to your notification systems or reporting practices.
Notification handbook
This downloadable handbook provides practical guidance to help employers understand and apply notification duties with real-world examples: