Safe Work Australia releases new yearly report

Safe Work Australia releases new yearly report: Evidence Matters

Safe Work Australia has released its new annual publication, Evidence Matters, which sets out the research and data guiding model work health and safety policy across Australia.

In short: Evidence Matters gathers the evidence base behind Safe Work Australia's policy efforts, aiding the agency in fulfilling its strategic aim of promoting healthier, safer and more productive workplaces.

Inside the Safe Work Australia annual report

According to the agency, this premier edition reviews a year of notable progress for the safety regulator, with milestones including:

• unveiling of the Research and Evaluation Strategy
• hosting of the Research Summit
• implementation of new data initiatives

The report provides information on how each achievement supports evidence-informed decisions, while also flagging priorities for the year ahead.

“In 2026, we will build on this momentum and our commitment to evidence-informed policy with a focus on strengthening our research partnerships, refining our strategic research and data priorities, and progressing the best practice review of the model WHS laws,” Safe Work Australia said.

The publication is available from the Safe Work Australia website, alongside its latest comparative performance monitoring report, which tracks jurisdictional trends over time.

What the report means for safety professionals

For duty holders, evidence-informed regulation shapes what good practice looks like on site. Insights feeding into model legislation eventually reach businesses as clearer expectations around hazard identification, risk assessment and control.

Employers who follow regulator findings are better placed to review procedures, refresh training and update safety documentation before an incident or inspection occurs.

Practical steps for stronger health and safety systems

• Compare your risk register against hazards present in current operations.
• Refresh Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) before crews begin high risk construction work.
• Confirm task-level documents, such as a Rigging Safe Work Procedure, Jigsaw Safe Work Method Statement or Linisher Safe Work Method Statement, still reflect site conditions.
• Consult your teams about emerging hazards, then record agreed controls in writing.
• Track lead indicators so improvement in safety performance can be demonstrated.

Sound risk management relies on current evidence rather than assumption.

Further reading from the regulator

Recent releases worth reviewing include findings on employee understanding of claim systems, fresh figures on workplace harm and updated information about prosecutions.

Overall, Evidence Matters signals a maturing approach to regulation, and safety leaders can use each edition to sense-check where our work should focus next. Aligning documents, training and controls with published evidence remains a reliable path towards better safety outcomes.