What is psychological safety?
Psychological safety is the foundation of a healthy and productive workplace. Psychosocial hazards are any risks in the workplace that can cause physical or psychological harm (including anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder).1
Mental health claims are rising faster than any other injury type1.
The median time off work for a mental health claim is over four times longer than for physical injuries1.
Over 50% of these claims can be preventable with the right systems and leadership capability1.
Through our network of providers, we can assist organisations to embed psychological safety into systems, leadership behaviours and everyday work. Through assessment, training and intervention, we can support you to create a workplace where people can perform safely, sustainably and with confidence.
Psychosocial hazards in the workplace
Psychosocial hazards are aspects of work that can cause psychological or physical harm, particularly when exposure is frequent, prolonged or poorly managed. Some of the most common hazards include:2
- High or poorly managed job demands
- Inadequate support from supervisors or colleagues
- Poor organisational change management
- Lack of role clarity or job control
- Inadequate reward or recognition
- Bullying, harassment, violence or aggression
- Poor physical work environment
- Remote or isolated work
- Conflict or poor workplace relationships
If left unmanaged, these hazards can contribute to stress related harm such as anxiety, depression, burnout, post traumatic stress disorder, fatigue and musculoskeletal injuries2.
Laws around psychological safety in Australia
Under the model WHS laws, organisations must eliminate psychosocial risks so far as is reasonably practicable. Or, where elimination is not possible, minimise those risks using effective control measures.3,9
This duty is reinforced by the Model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work, which outlines expectations for identifying hazards, assessing risk, implementing controls and reviewing effectiveness. Failure to comply can result in regulatory action, penalties and increased workers’ compensation exposure.4
Our service offering can help support you in this regulatory landscape, providing opportunities to strengthen culture, performance and employee wellbeing.
Assessing organisational risks and planning next steps
Understanding your current psychosocial safety risks is an important step in creating a psychologically safe workplace.5 Assessing your business services can help provide deep insight into where psychosocial risks exist and what practical risk management action is needed.
Evidence based assessment services that can be accessed through Medibank include:5
- Psychosocial Risk Assessments and Risk Management
- Structured Risk Assessments
- Engagement and Culture Surveys
Once risks are identified, we can procure Psychosocial Risk Management/Strategic Planning services that give you practical, targeted solutions to help address the source of the risks and can support you in reducing risk and strengthening workplace culture and performance.5
Possible strategic solutions include, but are not limited to:
- Job Design
- Conflict resolution
- Change management
Developing leader capability for psychologically safe teams
Leaders play a critical role in shaping psychological safety at work.6 By equipping leaders with the skills to identify psychosocial risks, support employee wellbeing and foster open and respectful communication, organisations may strengthen workplace culture, performance and psychological safety.6,8
With over 80 evidence based training topics available, workshops can be tailored to your people and delivered face to face or virtually. Key focus areas include:
Team Culture & Psychological Safety
Through these workshops, leaders learn how to build psychologically safe workplaces that can support in open communication, trust and collaboration. Participants may strengthen their ability to lead through complex challenges such as change, critical incidents, hybrid work and performance management while prioritising wellbeing and compliance with evolving psychosocial risk regulations.
Examples of workshop topics:
- Leading a psychologically healthy and safe workplace
- Trusting teams: Wellbeing coaching conversations for leaders
- Building a Culture of Wellness and Connection: Elevate engagement, reduce stress and strengthen your team.
- Good Work Design: Setting the foundations for effective teams
- Inclusive Leadership in Action: Building workplaces where neurodiversity thrives
Leader Development
This category of workshops can support leaders in prioritising their own health and wellbeing as the foundation for sustainable, impactful leadership.10 Participants may build the mindset and skills to manage stress, prevent burnout and maintain energy and clarity. These workshops may assist in helping empower leaders to lead authentically, support others more effectively and cultivate a positive, healthy work environment where both individuals and teams can thrive.
Examples of workshop topics:
- Knowing and using your strengths
- Self-compassion for leaders
- Strategies to elevate your impact
- Empowering women leaders
- High performing leaders
Implementing a Psychologically Safe Workplace
Preventing psychosocial harm requires more than policy. It requires targeted, practical interventions embedded into how work is designed and managed. Prevention and Solution Services are designed to reduce risk early and sustain psychologically safe work environments over time.
Outsourced Return-to-Work Coordination
The Return-to-Work Coordinator service is designed to handle the entire workers’ compensation process from start to finish by supporting sustainable return-to-work outcomes and reducing the financial and operational impacts of workplace injury.
The coordinator can assist by:
- Notifying relevant regulators
- Submitting claims
- Liaising with relevant stakeholders
- Developing recovery and return to work plans
- Providing support and advice for employees to help reduce stress.
Occupational Health and Safety Training
Workplace health monitoring programs are a smart investment in your people, helping you build a physically safer workplace.7
They are associated with fostering work culture while reducing risks and meeting compliance standards.7
Crisis Support
We can help provide access to experienced psychologists to respond on-site or via telehealth to critical incidents anywhere in Australia. Incidents can include natural disaster, suicide, armed robbery, assault, serious near-miss, traumatic injuries and fatality.
Some employees involved may need more support. We offer access to one-on-one follow-up appointments with a psychologist to support in their recovery and return to work.
Employee Assistance Program
We can provide access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services that offer confidential, professional help whenever they need it.
From mental health support and counselling to personalised coaching, financial wellbeing guidance, and nutritional wellbeing services, an EAP empowers employees to navigate life's challenges with confidence.
At Medibank, we're reimagining what traditional EAP looks, helping you proactively support your people, manage psychosocial risk and make better workforce health decisions. Click here to learn more about our reimagined EAP and register your interest
Ready to get support?
We’re here to help you find the right solution to support your workplace and your people. From compliance‑led risk assessments to leadership capability, prevention strategies and critical incident response, we can offer end‑to‑end psychosocial safety support tailored to your people’s needs.
Related health and wellbeing services
Employee Health Checks
Australians spend nearly a third of their lives in the workplace. Health checks offer an opportunity to support your people's health & wellbeing.
Women's Health Services
Things you should know
1 Snapshot: Psychological health and safety in the workplace
2 Safe Work Australia - Psychosocial Hazard.
3 Mental Health - WHS Duties | Safework Australia
4 Safe Work Australia - Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
5 Safe Work Australia - Psychosocial safety climate and better productivity in Australian workplaces
6 AHRI DLPA, 2025 Psychosocial Risks Report
7 Safe Work Australia, Health Monitoring
8 Black Dog Institute. Workplace Mental Health Training
9 Mental health - WHS duties | Safe Work Australia
10 WorkWell Leader - Impact Measure v2.0
11 Black Dog Institute - How to manage psychosocial hazards in your workplace