Organisations are increasingly at risk of investigation and prosecution by work health and safety
This article was co-written by Scott Meagher.
Yesterday, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) approved an increase in minimum wage rates under modern awards by 4.75%. The National Minimum Wage (NMW) will be increased to $1,004.90 per week, or $26.44 per hour. These changes will take effect from 1 July 2026.
The wages paid to the
This article was co-authored with Anna Ziegler and Sophia Dikolli.
From 1 July 2026, the Payday Super reforms will take effect, requiring employers to pay superannuation guarantee (SG) contributions on every ‘payday’ – not at the end of each quarterly cycle.
For employers, this is a fundamental
Embedding a trauma‑informed approach to workplace investigations requires visible leadership, ongoing training, robust policies, and proactive support for investigator wellbeing. Sustainable change comes from integrating these principles into organisational culture, ensuring investigations are fair, resilient, and protective of all participants.
The commitment to a trauma-informed approach to workplace investigations marks
This article was co-authored with Arabella Cull.
Case update: Anthony Michael Gibson v Maritime New Zealand [2026] NZHC 813
On 31 March 2026, the High Court of New Zealand (HCNZ) dismissed the appeal of Anthony Gibson, the former CEO of Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL), and upheld his conviction and sentence by the District
Trauma‑informed interviewing shifts workplace investigations from what may be perceived by employees as adversarial questioning to a structured, supportive dialogue that prioritises psychological safety, enhances memory recall, and produces more accurate and reliable accounts. By applying the techniques outlined in this article to interviews as part of workplace investigations, employers
Procedural fairness and trauma‑informed practice are complementary approaches to investigations. By applying the three rules of procedural fairness, investigators create conditions for investigations that are both legally robust and psychologically safe. Employers should ensure investigators understand how trauma‑informed principles reinforce procedural fairness to deliver fair, transparent, and accurate outcomes.
In
What employers need to know:
By embedding the six core principles of trauma-informed practice to workplace investigations, employers can create respectful, effective processes that lead to more reliable outcomes and foster a culture of trust. We recommend that employers review and align their policies with psychological safety obligations, and ensure that their investigators are trained
The NSW Parliament has narrowly passed the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Digital Work Systems) Bill 2025, introducing the most significant update to the State’s WHS framework in more than a decade. The reforms, an Australian first, respond to the rapid expansion of AI‑enabled management tools, algorithmic scheduling, digital surveillance technologies and automated decision‑making systems
WARNING: Content that may be distressing
The recent sentencing of a Commonwealth government department (Department) for failing to manage psychosocial risks arising during performance management processes is a defining moment for Australian workplaces. It reinforces a point that regulators have been signalling for some time: management of psychosocial hazards are a core part of an