Twenty-seven new SafeWork NSW inspectors have graduated this week, with 14 to be based in metro Sydney and 13 heading across the Hunter, Central Coast, Riverina, South Coast, Illawarra and Central West regions to boost workplace safety.
Since becoming a standalone regulator on 1 July 2025, SafeWork NSW has recruited 68 new inspectors – marking a five-year record intake.
The graduating cohort includes five psychosocial inspectors who will bring expertise in areas such as psychology, workers compensation, and anti-bullying that will be used to prevent and address psychosocial risks in workplaces across NSW.
Managing psychosocial risks in the workplace is one of the five regulatory priorities of SafeWork NSW.
“SafeWork NSW inspectors play a critical role in protecting workers and preventing workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses across our state,” said SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer.
“Our graduating inspectors strengthen our frontline regulatory capability, ensuring SafeWork NSW remains well equipped to support workplaces through education, advice, compliance and enforcement activities.
“Congratulations to our graduates. Their work will play a vital role in driving compliance and influencing safer workplace practices that ensure every worker can return home safely at the end of their working day.”
The boost builds on the NSW Government’s commitment to safer workplaces with an investment of $127.7 million over four years into improving work health and safety outcomes in NSW, which includes adding new 20 psychosocial inspectors to SafeWork NSW as part of an additional 51 inspectors overall – SafeWork NSW’s largest ever uplift in inspectors.
Minister for Work Health and Safety and Industrial relations, Sophie Cotsis said the expanded SafeWork NSW inspectorate sharpens the agency’s nation-leading focus on psychological health at work by:
- Developing dedicated resources and promoting psychological injury prevention;
- Giving workers and employers a specialised first point of contact for all mental-health related concerns.
The NSW Government is also establishing a Psychosocial Advisory Service, that will provide workers and business owners with tailored advice on managing psychosocial safety at work and was the first state to implement a psychosocial code of practice that covers all psychosocial hazards and all workplaces.
“Our SafeWork NSW inspectors are on the frontline of workplace safety and play a vital role in ensuring workers go to work in a safe environment and come home safely,” said Ms Cotsis.
“One of the most significant developments in work health and safety is the growing recognition that psychological harms are as damaging as physical harm.
“These additional 5 psychosocial focused inspectors will aid in our mission to prevent psychosocial hazards and ensure the psychological safety of workers.
“From metro Sydney to the North Coast, Central West and South Coast – these 28 new inspectors demonstrate the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to creating safer workplaces right across NSW.”
SafeWork NSW inspectors are responsible for taking targeted actions to prevent or reduce the risk of death, injury and illnesses in New South Wales workplaces, particularly against the high-hazard areas identified in SafeWork NSW’s 2026-27 priorities.
These include:
- Falls from heights
- Psychosocial risks
- Hazardous substances
- Mobile plant, vehicles and fixed machinery.
Anyone interested in becoming a SafeWork NSW inspector can visit the SafeWork NSW website at: Become a Safework NSW inspector.
