Safe Work Australia releases Australian WHS Strategy 2023-2033- Baseline Report

Safe Work Australia has released its baseline report, the ‘Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023-2033 Baseline Report,’ examining the WHS environment in Australia in 2023, the year the strategy was implemented.

According to the federal workplace safety regulator, the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy lays out a national vision for ensuring safety and health of all workers at a national level, and offers a framework built around robust safety management systems for enhancing WHS results in Australia over coming ten years.

What Does the Baseline Report Cover?

“The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023-2033 Baseline Report presents insights from a range of data sources to illustrate focus areas for action over next 10 years,” Safe Work Australia said.

“The report also explores a set of measurable targets aimed at driving systemic improvements in WHS outcomes.”

These focus areas highlight where organisations should strengthen their management systems, particularly around psychosocial hazards, high-risk industries, and sustainable workplace practices. Businesses that integrate these priorities into daily operations, rather than treating them as isolated compliance tasks, tend to see stronger long-term results.

Why This Baseline Report Matters for Businesses

For technical professionals in construction, manufacturing, and healthcare, this baseline sets a benchmark against which future progress will be measured. Organisations relying on outdated management systems may find gaps once new targets under the safety strategy are rolled out.

Strengthening management systems now, ahead of forthcoming reviews, gives businesses a head start in aligning with the strategy's ten-year vision. Resources such as updated safe work method statements can support this transition, particularly for high-risk tasks.

Practical resources, including templates for equipment-specific procedures like jigsaw operation and linisher operation, help embed these expectations into daily site management systems.

Read the Full Report

Read the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023-2033 Baseline Report in full to understand how these findings may shape workplace safety obligations across your industry.

For further context on how Safe Work Australia continues to track national performance, see our coverage of Safe Work Australia's release of new WHS data and the regulator's 2023-24 Annual Report.