4 minute read
- Every Victorian employer expected to have new legal duties to prevent psychological hazards from 1 December 2025
- Work-related mental injury claims 18% of all WorkCover claims in Vic in 2023/24; and climbing
- These claims last longer and cost more, impacting the business and worker
From 1 December 2025, the new Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations will come into effect in Victoria, bringing us into line with the rest of Australia. These laws will require all employers to identify, control and review controls for a range of specified psychosocial hazards such as high job demands, poor workplace relationships, and poor organisational justice which can lead to both psychological and physical injury. These are issues many of us have experienced in the past, but may have assumed had to simply be accepted as part of working life. The Psychological Health addition to the OHS Regulations makes it explicitly clear that mitigating these risks is a legal duty, on par with managing physical workplace hazards.
If you haven’t heard about these changes yet, you’re not alone. Many Victorian businesses are still unaware that new OHS Regulations on psychological health are coming. However, not knowing about the law is not a defence, and WorkSafe will expect all employers to demonstrate action. Businesses that prepare early will be in control — those that don’t risk fines, disruption, and last-minute panic. A new Compliance Code is expected in October 2025, which will outline what an appropriate employer response looks like ahead of the 1 December 2025 expected commencement date.
What your business needs to do now
The draft Regulations give us a strong indicator of what will be expected of Victorian Employers, and its in-keeping with the mangement of other risk in the workplace. As Duty Holders (Owners / Directors / Managers) it’s essential that you:
- Educate yourself and your team – ensure leaders and employees understand what psychosocial hazards are and why they matter.
- Consult with workers – ask your people about their experience of work, and invite their input on risks and improvements.
- Identify and assess hazards – consider factors like workload, role clarity, workplace relationships, and support systems, and include them in your Risk Register.
- Put controls in place – following the Hierarchy of Controls, update or introduce policies, procedures, and reporting tools to address identified risks.
- Review and monitor – set a schedule to check how effective your controls are, and make improvements as needed.
Many businesses have already got great systems in place for managing physical hazards that can be utilised and expanded to capture and manage psychosocial hazards. Existing policies on bullying/harassment, and practices such as regular check-ins with workers and providing workplace flexibility all contribute to safer psychological workplaces, and can be captured in your response to the new Regulations.
Preparing for December 2025 isn’t about starting again, it’s about recognising what you already do well, filling any gaps, and showing that your systems meet the new legal standard.
We’ll Manage This For You
For our FCHR Members, you’ll likely be automatically included in our managed service to prepare for the new Psychological Health Regulations, dending on your preferences and internal capabilitites. That means you can focus on running your business while we take care of the heavy lifting – planning, worker consultation, audit, training, and the documentation you’ll need to demonstrate compliance.
There will be some involvement required from you and your team, such as completing training, making time to support the audit process, and being prepared to action the recommendations we outline in your Gap Analysis Report. But the difference is, you won’t be left to figure out what needs to be done or how to do it.
For existing and new clients not currently in our Membership Program, this service is also available to you on request at our standard Consulting Rates. Whether you’ve worked with us before or are new to FCHR, you can access the same structured support that gives our Members peace of mind and ensures your business is audit-ready. We’ll guide you step by step, provide or update the tools, and manage the process, so the path to compliance is clear and achievable, giving you confidence.
Your Next Step
- Download the Member Report Preparing for the New Psychological Health Regulations 2025 (12-minute read) to understand what’s required and how FCHR is facilitating this process. Share with your key leaders. We’re making this report available to non-members due to the important nature of the content.
- Consider your current policies and procedures ahead of your upcoming FCHR audit.
- Watch for communications from our OHS Consultant and be ready to prioritise your response and preparations.
- Act early to make the process smoother and ensure your business is well placed for December 2025.
Contact us at hello@fullcirclehr.com.au if you would like more information or to request this service from the FCHR team.