The average psychosocial injury claim in NSW has nearly doubled in five years to $288,542 — and that's just the direct cost. Hidden costs run three to ten times higher. From 1 July 2026, employers also pay the first two weeks out of pocket. Here's what a claim actually costs a small contractor, and what it costs to prevent one.

Most blue-collar employers point to their EAP when asked how they manage psychosocial risk. But with utilisation rates as low as 2% in construction, and NSW Codes of Practice now legally enforceable, a phone number on the wall is not a system — and regulators know it.

SafeWork NSW has named psychosocial risk a top priority for 2026-27 — backed by an expanded inspectorate and legally enforceable Codes of Practice. Here's what that means for NSW businesses, and what a defensible record of psychosocial risk management actually looks like.