Model WHS Laws

We created the model WHS laws in 2011.

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WHS laws in your jurisdiction

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Data and Research

We collect, analyse and publish data and information on work health and safety and workers' compensation.

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Key work health and safety statistics

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Resources and Publications

We publish a wide range of resources covering many work health and safety topics.

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Read our Codes of Practice

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Safe Work Australia has published findings from the 2026 Australian Worker Exposure Survey (AWES 2026), providing an up-to-date national picture of work-related hazard exposure across Australia.

/media-centre/news/2026-australian-worker-exposure-survey-findings-released

Safe Work Australia commissioned the University of Wollongong to conduct a feasibility study into the composition, emissions, and potential health risks of engineered, ceramic and natural stone.

/doc/feasibility-study-composition-emissions-profiles-and-potential-health-risks-engineered-ceramic-and-natural-stone

More than 2.3 million Australians work in sales and service roles.

/media-centre/news/new-data-reveals-whs-risks-facing-australias-sales-and-service-workforce

The Comparison of

/media-centre/news/latest-report-comparing-workers-compensation-arrangements-australia-and-new-zealand-now-available

This report provides information on workers’ compensation arrangements and the differences between schemes in Australia and New Zealand as at 31 December 2025. It compares key features such as:

/doc/comparison-workers-compensation-arrangements-australia-and-new-zealand-2025

Related information

/doc/australian-whs-strategy-2023-2033-two-year-performance-update

This summary identifies key themes raised during the consultation process for the Best Practice Review of the model work health and safety laws. 

/doc/best-practice-review-consultation-summary

Safe Work Australia has published a summary of feedback received du

/media-centre/news/best-practice-review-model-whs-laws-consultation-summary-published

Safe Work Australia has released an independent research report conducted by Monash University, Research examining pathways to secondary psychological injury.

/media-centre/news/new-research-examines-pathways-secondary-psychological-injury

This report examines the key drivers that contribute to an injured worker developing a secondary psychological injury. Secondary psychological injury refers to new or worsening mental health symptoms during a workers’ compensation claim.

/doc/research-examining-pathways-secondary-psychological-injury

Safe Work Australia’s Silica Action Plan has been developed to complement and support the implementation of the Silica National Strategic Plan 2024–30 (SNSP).

/doc/silica-national-strategic-plan-safe-work-australia-action-plan

This implementation plan outlines a range of activities to support implementation of outcomes from the 2025

/doc/engineered-stone-prohibition-review-safe-work-australia-implementation-plan

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WHS ministers tasked Safe Work Australia with reviewing the engineered stone ban, which came into effect on 1 July 2024. 

/doc/review-engineered-stone-prohibition
/media-centre/news/mid-term-review-national-return-work-strategy-2020-2030-news

The mid-term review of the Na

/doc/mid-term-review-national-return-work-strategy-2020-2030

Related information

/doc/australian-whs-strategy-2023-2033-one-year-performance-update

On 29 October, Australia ratified the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Fundamental Convention – Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention 187 at a tripartite ceremony of unions, employers and governments in Geneva, Switzerland.

/media-centre/news/ilo-conventions
/media-centre/news/new-report-workplace-and-work-related-violence-and-aggression-australia-now-available

Safe Work Australia’s research grant recipient, the Centre for Transformative Work Design at Curtin University, has completed their research to explore interventions to manage psychosocial risks in the aged care sector.

/media-centre/news/research-finds-redesigning-work-may-help-reduce-psychosocial-risks-aged-care

This report provides a review of the literature on fatigue including:

/doc/rapid-review-evidence-managing-risks-associated-fatigue

In March 2024 Safe Work Australia commissioned the Australian Industrial Transformation Institute, Flinders University to undertake a literature review on harmful behaviours in the workplace.

/doc/harmful-behaviours-workplace

Related information

/doc/australian-whs-strategy-2023-2033-baseline-report-about-data

Related information

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This report examines the evidence of different approaches to early intervention in workers’ compensation in Australia and what works to reduce recovery times and improve return to work outcomes for injured workers.

/doc/early-intervention-workers-compensation-process

This report provides evidence-based information about diseases and occupational exposures for consideration by jurisdictions when reviewing the deemed diseases lists in their workers’ compensation legislation.

/doc/2023-interim-review-list-deemed-disease-australia-report

The Comparison of Workers’ Compensation Arrangements in Australia and New Zealand (2023) is now available in

/doc/comparison-workers-compensation-arrangements-australia-and-new-zealand-2023

The Comparison of Workers’ Compensation Arrangements in Australia and New Zealand 2023 report has been published.

/media-centre/news/latest-report-comparing-workers-compensation-arrangements-australia-and-new-zealand-0

The key achievements and scorecard report 2023 outlines the progress that Safe Work Australia’s made in its first 3 year towards the vision and strategic outcomes of the 

/doc/key-achievements-and-scorecard-report-2023-year-3

In May 2023, Safe Work Australia commissioned the University of Adelaide to undertake a literature review and gap analysis of the scientific evidence to inform recommendations related to the three options for prohibition on the use of engineered stone in Australia.

/doc/prohibition-engineered-stone-literature-review-and-gap-analysis