On Monday 13 October 2025, new Work, Health and Safety (WHS) laws commenced which have implications for schools. 

The key changes under the laws are as follows:

  • Codes of Practice which have been approved by the NSW government will now be mandatory and legally binding on schools. This will include the code of practice for Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work. Previously codes of practice were considered ‘best practice’ only;
  • if a school is issued a Provisional Improvement Notice by a Heath and Safety Representative, the school must send this on to SafeWork NSW as soon as practicable. Failure to inform SafeWork NSW can lead to a penalty; and
  • a union can now lodge a dispute about a WHS matter (which can include a matter about a WHS committee) directly with the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, rather than via the relevant SafeWork NSW inspector.

For more information please do not hesitate to contact the AISNSW Workplace Management Team on 02 9929 2845.