What you need to know about the new Safe Work Australia Model Code

What you need to know about the new Safe Work Australia Model Code

On 4 July 2025, Safe Work Australia introduced a new Model Code of Practice specifically for the healthcare and social assistance industry, the most significant development in workplace health and safety standards for the sector in more than ten years.

This new code is expected to have broad impacts on how healthcare and social service providers operate, meet compliance obligations, and manage workplace risk across Australia.

What's New?

• Industry-specific:
  Unlike prior general WHS codes (e.g. on fatigue, manual tasks, or psychosocial risks), this is the first code designed specifically for the healthcare and social assistance industry.
• Comprehensive consolidation:
  Over 100 pages covering key hazards, such as hazardous manual tasks, fatigue, psychosocial stress, violence and aggression, biological and chemical exposures, environmental and equipment risks, all in one place.
• Structured for ease of use:
  Step-by-step risk framework, legal responsibilities, practical examples and case studies focused on high-risk areas and real-world scenarios.
• Digital resources launching in 2026:
  Safe Work Australia plans an interactive online version with additional case studies and learning modules to help streamline implementation.

Legal Status & Adoption Timeline

This is an approved Model Code of Practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act. Once it is formally adopted by each state or territory, it will become a recognised reference standard that businesses can use to demonstrate compliance with their WHS duties.

While the Code itself is not the law, it carries significant legal weight. Regulators and courts may refer to it when determining what is "reasonably practicable" in managing workplace risks. Failure to follow the Code could influence decisions around infringement notices, improvement or prohibition orders, and broader legal liability.

Each state and territory will adopt the Code at its own pace, so businesses should keep an eye on announcements from their local WHS regulator to understand when the Code will apply in their area.

Who's Affected?

The Model Code applies to any Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) operating within the healthcare and social assistance industry. This includes public and private hospitals, aged care facilities, disability support services, and community or home-based care providers. Once the Code is adopted in each state or territory, these organisations will be expected to align their health and safety practices with its guidance.

The Code's scope is broad, covering not only business operators but also workers, officers, designers, suppliers, and even visitors. It also takes into account the realities of solo and mobile workforces, the needs of a diverse workforce across cultural and gender lines, and the heightened risks faced by certain worker groups that are particularly prevalent in this sector.

Why it's a Game-Changer

• Highest-risk sector gets dedicated WHS guidance:
  Healthcare and social care has Australia's highest injury rate, and over 2 million workers are affected from musculoskeletal disorders to psychological injuries and violence-related claims.
• Single coherent reference:
  No more piecing together manual handling codes, chemical safety codes, psychosocial codes separately, this Code brings them into a unified framework.
• Stronger WHS culture for care workplaces:
  The Code expressly rejects the notion that worker risk is an unavoidable part of client or patient care. Worker safety is essential for patient safety too, as emphasised by Safe Work Australia leadership.
• Legal clarity and defensibility:
  Organisations can point to compliance with the Code as a legally defensible position, while regulators can benchmark enforcement actions against it.
• Practical and implementable:
  Real-world case studies, checklists, hazard assessment templates, and step-by-step guidance mean it's not just aspirational, it's actionable from day one.

How Coverforce can help

Not sure where to start? Our specialist Workplace Services team can help you navigate the new Model Code with confidence, whether it's reviewing your current WHS policies, identifying compliance gaps, or strengthening your injury prevention and claims management processes. With deep experience in the healthcare and social assistance sector, we'll work with you to reduce risk, lower costs, and build a safer, more compliant workplace. Give us a call, we're here to help.

You can read the full Model Code of Practice for the healthcare and social assistance industry on the SafeWork Australia site here.

Contact our Workplace Services Team

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