Share your opinion on SafeWork NSW’s focus areas for the upcoming financial year

Share Your Opinion on SafeWork NSW's Focus Areas for the Upcoming Financial Year

The New South Wales Government wants employers, employees, labor unions, and industry stakeholders to have your say on SafeWork NSW's regulatory priorities for the upcoming financial year 2025/26.

According to the State Government, these regulatory priorities are included in the Annual Regulatory Statement (ARS) of SafeWork NSW. The consultation period is now open, and feedback will be taken into account for the ARS set to launch on July 1, 2025.

Why Your Feedback Matters

Officials say input from stakeholders will ensure the ARS aligns with industry requirements, safeguards workplace safety, maintains community safety, and supports the SafeWork NSW Strategic Plan for 2024-2029.

Sharing your feedback now gives businesses across construction, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors a direct role in shaping how regulatory priorities are set. Robust community input helps identify risk areas early, before they escalate into larger safety or health concerns.

The Minister for Industrial Relations, Sophie Cotsis, urged residents of New South Wales to engage in the consultation process.

"I encourage everyone to participate in this consultation to help ensure SafeWork NSW is focused on the right priorities for the year ahead," the minister said.

How to Get Involved

Businesses can share your views by submitting feedback through official channels before the consultation window closes. Consider these steps when preparing your response:

• Review current SafeWork NSW guidance related to your industry's risk profile
• Identify gaps in existing safety and health protections relevant to your workplace
• Provide practical advice on what our priorities should be for the coming year
• Reference how compliance checks have affected daily operations

Organisations managing hazardous environments should pay close attention to this process. For example, sites requiring detailed hazardous area risk documentation often face unique compliance demands that regulatory bodies should factor into their planning.

Supporting Documentation for Compliance

Keeping accurate records remains central to workplace safety. Businesses seeking practical advice on managing daily operations may benefit from tools such as a digital Job Safety Analysis template, which supports proactive risk identification across various industries.

Similarly, organisations handling chemicals or operating equipment should reference tailored procedures, including chemical handling and storage SOPs and equipment maintenance SOPs, to reduce risk and strengthen overall safety performance.

Related Regulatory Developments

This consultation follows similar moves across other jurisdictions. The NSW Resources Regulator recently announced compliance focus areas for the latter half of 2025, while SafeWork SA has highlighted construction safety through an upcoming webinar. NSW mine operators have also been encouraged to make necessary preparations for the upcoming storm season, reflecting broader attention to risk management across sectors.

Businesses new to compliance documentation can find guidance through resources like SafetyDocs' getting started guide, which walks through downloading and implementing safety documents correctly.

Where to Find More Information

Additional information regarding the consultation process, submission deadlines, and current regulatory priorities is available on the SafeWork NSW website. Stakeholders seeking further advice on how feedback will shape future health and safety strategy should consult official sources directly before the window closes.