Big changes are coming to Workers Comp in Queensland 2025
Author: Dr David Brentnall
From premiums to psychosocial risk changes, we look ahead to five changes kicking in this year and how they could impact you.
As of 2025, one of the key themes in the realm of workplace health and safety in Queensland, reflected in changes made by WorkCover Queensland and Safe Work Queensland, is the focus on mental health and psychosocial risks. Here’s a summary of the major developments and themes:
1. Stronger Focus on Psychosocial Hazards
Amendments to workplace health and safety regulations emphasize the identification, assessment, and management of psychosocial risks, such as bullying, harassment, workload pressures, and poor workplace culture.
There is now a requirement for employers to integrate psychosocial hazards into their risk management processes.
2. Presumptive Laws for Psychological Injuries
For certain high-risk industries (e.g., healthcare, emergency services, and education), laws have been updated to provide presumptive coverage for psychological injuries. This means claims for mental health issues in these sectors are more streamlined and supported.
3. Stricter Reporting and Compliance Measures
Businesses are required to provide annual psychosocial risk assessments and demonstrate clear steps toward mitigating risks.
Safe Work Queensland has increased audits and proactive compliance visits focused on managing workplace culture and stressors.
4. Workplace Rehabilitation Reforms
Enhanced support systems for injured workers now place a stronger emphasis on early intervention and mental health recovery at work.
Programs focus on creating psychologically safe environments to help workers return to work sooner.
5. Focus on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
New funding grants and resources have been introduced to assist SMEs in implementing mental health and psychosocial risk strategies effectively.
Consequences for Employers
The 2025 WorkCover and WHS reforms in Queensland bring significant implications for employers, including increased compliance obligations to manage psychosocial risks and facilitate mental health recovery at work. These changes create higher administrative and financial burdens, with potential premium increases and stricter accountability in high-risk industries. Employers must proactively adapt to mitigate legal, financial, and reputational risks while ensuring a supportive and compliant workplace environment.
Here are the key challenges employers might face – Implications for Employers in Queensland (2025 WorkCover and WHS Reforms):
1. Increased Liability for Psychosocial Hazards
Employers must rigorously address psychosocial risks, such as workplace stress, bullying, and harassment, under stricter regulations. Non-compliance may lead to legal actions, reputational harm, and penalties following audits by WorkCover Queensland or Safe Work Queensland.
2. Higher Administrative and Compliance Costs
The need for annual psychosocial risk assessments, enhanced mental health strategies, and documentation places a financial and resource burden on employers, particularly SMEs.
3. Return-to-Work Challenges
Employers face greater responsibility for creating psychologically safe workplaces for injured workers and facilitating mental health-related return-to-work processes. Failure to do so could lead to disputes or penalties.
4. Increased Premium Costs
Although premiums are currently stable, the focus on mental health claims and broader reforms may lead to higher workers’ compensation premiums in future years, affecting business expenses.
5. Heightened Scrutiny in High-Risk Industries
Industries such as healthcare, emergency services, and education may face more frequent claims and inspections due to the presumptive nature of mental health injuries, increasing operational pressures.
6. Reputational Risks
A failure to comply with the new WHS and WorkCover requirements, particularly regarding psychosocial hazards and mental health, could result in reputational damage, impacting employee retention and customer trust.