vic-psychosocial-checker

Victorian Psychosocial Hazard Management — Complete Reference

Purpose

This skill provides the verified Victorian-specific legislative and guidance framework for managing psychosocial hazards at work. It extracts key provisions from two source documents:

1. OHS (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 — S.R. No. 103/2025, made under the OHS Act 2004 (Vic). Standalone regulations (not a Division within OHS Regulations 2017). 17 regulations across 4 Parts, commenced 1 December 2025. Includes unique r 15 control hierarchy with restrictions on administrative controls (r 15(3)–(4)), r 16 review triggers with HSR request power, and Part 3 issue resolution procedures.
2. Compliance Code: Psychosocial Hazards — approved compliance code under s 149 of the OHS Act 2004 (Vic), document reference WSV4030/01/08.25, commenced 1 December 2025. "Deemed to comply" status under s 152 of the Act. 4 Parts + 3 Appendices: compliance framework overview (Appendix A), hazard identification tool (Appendix B), 16 hazard category examples and controls (Appendix C).

This is a reference skill — it is not intended as a standalone user tool. It is loaded by action skills (e.g. psychosocial gap analysis, risk register builder, survey planner) when they need to verify or cite VIC-specific psychosocial hazard provisions.

For general OHS Act and Regulations provisions (duties, offences, penalties, incident notification, general risk management), refer to the safetysure-whs-legislation:ohs-act-checker-vic and safetysure-whs-legislation:ohs-regulation-checker-vic skills.

For Model (national) psychosocial provisions (Model WHS Bill, Model WHS Regulations Division 11, Model CoP: Managing Psychosocial Hazards, Model CoP: Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment), refer to the safetysure-psychosocial-model:psychosocial-model skill.

Critical Rules

1. Only cite provisions that appear in the section files. Never fabricate or assume regulation numbers, section numbers, page references or content.
2. Citation format — Regulations: Use "r [number]" or "rr [range]" for OHS (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 (e.g. "r 15" or "rr 14–17"). Use "s [number]" for OHS Act 2004 sections (e.g. "s 21 of the OHS Act 2004").
3. Citation format — Compliance Code: Reference by title and part/appendix (e.g. "VIC Compliance Code: Psychosocial Hazards, Part 3 — Step 3: Control Risks" or "VIC Compliance Code, Appendix C — Bullying").
4. Use conservative, factual language when describing legislative obligations and Compliance Code guidance. Avoid subjective or emotive terms — describe requirements in objective terms.
5. Always use Australian English spelling (e.g. behaviour, organisation, colour, defence, licence [noun], minimise, analyse).
6. Distinguish between sources. The Regulations prescribe specific requirements for psychosocial risk management. The Compliance Code provides practical guidance on how to comply — with "deemed to comply" evidentiary status (s 152 OHS Act).
7. VIC is a non-harmonised jurisdiction. Victoria uses the OHS Act 2004 (not a WHS Act), "employer" (not "PCBU"), standalone OHS (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 (not a Division within WHS Regulations), and a Compliance Code (not a Code of Practice). Always use VIC-specific terminology.
8. Highlight VIC-unique provisions where relevant. Key unique features include: r 15 control hierarchy with r 15(3) restriction on exclusive use of information/instruction/training and r 15(4) predominance restriction; r 16(2) HSR review request power; Part 3 issue resolution procedures (rr 10–13); and the "deemed to comply" status of the Compliance Code.
9. If a provision cannot be located in these files, state that the specific provision should be verified against the current legislation and indicate which source document it is likely found in.

Section Index

Read the relevant section file(s) based on the subject matter of the query:

OHS (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025

File	Content	When to Read
sections/vic-ohs-psych-reg.md	OHS (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 — all 4 Parts (rr 1–17)	Psychosocial hazard definition (r 4 — 5 limbs), control of risk hierarchy (r 15 — including r 15(3) and r 15(4) restrictions), identification duty (r 14), review triggers (r 16 — including HSR request r 16(2)), issue resolution procedures (rr 10–13), HSR consultation requirements (r 9), independent contractor extension (r 6), OHS Act cross-references

Compliance Code: Psychosocial Hazards

File	Content	When to Read
sections/vic-cc-introduction.md	Parts 1–2	Compliance framework (s 149, s 152 "deemed to comply"), key terminology differences (employer vs PCBU, OHS Act vs WHS Act), who has duties (employer s 21, officers s 27, employees s 25), consultation obligations (Part 4 OHS Act, r 9), Table 1 — 16 common psychosocial hazard categories, frequency/duration/combination factors, workplace safety culture
sections/vic-cc-risk-management.md	Part 3	Step 1 — Identify (methods: review records, observe, talk to workers, surveys, review job requirements), Step 2 — Assess and prioritise (frequency, duration, severity, combination, number of workers, existing controls), Step 3 — Control (r 15 hierarchy: eliminate → alter (5 categories) → information/instruction/training → combination, with r 15(3) and r 15(4) restrictions, good work design principles, implementing controls, residual risk quality rating), Step 4 — Review (r 16 triggers, Table 2, HSR request, common failures), Record-keeping (risk register, compliance demonstration)
sections/vic-cc-reports-records.md	Part 4	Reporting mechanisms, responding to reports, harmful workplace behaviours as OHS matters, trauma-informed approach, investigation (competent investigators, due process, privacy/confidentiality), notifiable incidents (OHS Act Part 5 ss 37–38), keeping records (risk register), safe return to work (Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013), WorkSafe Victoria contact (1800 136 089)
sections/vic-cc-appendices.md	Appendices A–C	Appendix A: Compliance framework overview. Appendix B: Hazard identification tool (7 information source categories — organisational records, HR information, OHS information, external information, workplace observation, job-specific requirements, validated surveys). Appendix C: 16 hazard category examples and controls — each with definition, examples, r 15(2)(a) controls, information/instruction/training examples, related hazards (aggression/violence, bullying, exposure to traumatic events/content, gendered violence, high job demands, low job control, low job demands, low recognition/reward, low role clarity, poor environmental conditions, poor organisational change management, poor organisational justice, poor support, poor workplace relationships, remote/isolated work, sexual harassment)

Workflow

1. Identify the subject matter from the calling skill's query or the user's request
2. Read the relevant section file(s) — read only what is needed to answer the query
3. Cite provisions accurately from the extracted text, using the citation formats above
4. Use VIC-specific terminology — employer (not PCBU), OHS Act 2004 (not WHS Act), Compliance Code (not Code of Practice), WorkSafe Victoria (not SafeWork)
5. Highlight VIC-unique features where relevant (r 15 hierarchy, r 15(3)/(4) restrictions, Part 3 issue resolution, "deemed to comply" status)
6. Cross-reference with Model provisions where appropriate (load safetysure-psychosocial-model:psychosocial-model if Model-level detail is needed for comparison)

Common Query Routing

Query Type	Section File(s) to Read
Psychosocial hazard definition (r 4)	vic-ohs-psych-reg.md
r 15 control hierarchy	vic-ohs-psych-reg.md + vic-cc-risk-management.md
r 15(3) restriction — exclusive use of training	vic-ohs-psych-reg.md
r 15(4) predominance restriction	vic-ohs-psych-reg.md
Employer duties — psychosocial	vic-cc-introduction.md
Officer due diligence — psychosocial	vic-cc-introduction.md
Employee duties — psychosocial	vic-cc-introduction.md
16 hazard categories / Table 1	vic-cc-introduction.md
Risk management 4-step process	vic-cc-risk-management.md
Hazard identification methods	vic-cc-risk-management.md
Risk assessment approach	vic-cc-risk-management.md
Control measures — good work design	vic-cc-risk-management.md
Review triggers (r 16)	vic-ohs-psych-reg.md + vic-cc-risk-management.md
HSR review request (r 16(2))	vic-ohs-psych-reg.md
HSR consultation requirements (r 9)	vic-ohs-psych-reg.md
Issue resolution procedures (rr 10–13)	vic-ohs-psych-reg.md
Independent contractors (r 6)	vic-ohs-psych-reg.md
Responding to psychosocial reports	vic-cc-reports-records.md
Investigation of psychosocial incidents	vic-cc-reports-records.md
Notifiable incidents — psychosocial	vic-cc-reports-records.md
Return to work after psychological injury	vic-cc-reports-records.md
Hazard-specific guidance (16 categories)	vic-cc-appendices.md
Hazard identification tool	vic-cc-appendices.md
Compliance framework overview	vic-cc-appendices.md
"Deemed to comply" status	vic-cc-introduction.md
People at Work survey	vic-cc-risk-management.md (Step 1) + vic-cc-appendices.md (Appendix B)
Gendered violence	vic-cc-appendices.md
Sexual harassment (EO Act 2010 definition)	vic-cc-appendices.md
Employer-provided accommodation	vic-ohs-psych-reg.md (r 4(d)–(e)) + vic-cc-appendices.md (poor environmental conditions)
WorkSafe Victoria contact	vic-cc-reports-records.md

VIC-Specific Characteristics (vs Model, QLD, NSW)

Feature	VIC	QLD	NSW	Model
Primary legislation	OHS Act 2004	WHS Act 2011 (Qld)	WHS Act 2011 (NSW)	Model WHS Act
Duty holder term	Employer	PCBU	PCBU	PCBU
Psychosocial regulations	Standalone: OHS (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 (rr 1–17)	WHS Regulation 2011 Division 11 (rr 55A–55H)	WHS Regulation 2025 Division 11 (rr 55A–55D)	Model WHS Regulations Division 11 (rr 55A–55D)
Control hierarchy	r 15: 4-tier with r 15(3) and r 15(4) restrictions	rr 55C–55D: eliminate → minimise (9 matters)	rr 55C–55D: eliminate → minimise (9 matters)	rr 55C–55D: eliminate → minimise (9 matters)
Restriction on admin controls	r 15(3): may ONLY use training exclusively if NONE of r 15(2)(a) measures are reasonably practicable	No explicit restriction	No explicit restriction	No explicit restriction
Predominance restriction	r 15(4): training must NOT be predominant in combination	No equivalent	No equivalent	No equivalent
SGBH provisions	No (gendered violence is a hazard category in Compliance Code Appendix C)	Yes — rr 55BA, 55E–55H (QLD-specific)	No	No
Mandatory SGBH prevention plan	No	Yes — r 55H (60 penalty units)	No	No
Issue resolution procedures	Yes — Part 3 (rr 10–13)	No equivalent in Division 11	No equivalent in Division 11	No equivalent in Division 11
HSR review request power	Yes — r 16(2) explicit provision	Not separately articulated	Not separately articulated	Not separately articulated
Guidance document	Compliance Code ("deemed to comply" — s 152 OHS Act)	Code of Practice ("admissible as evidence" — s 275 WHS Act)	Code of Practice ("admissible as evidence" — s 275 WHS Act)	Code of Practice
Guidance year	2025 (commenced 1 December 2025)	2022 (commenced 1 April 2023)	May 2021	July 2022
Guidance publisher	WorkSafe Victoria	Office of Industrial Relations (Qld)	SafeWork NSW	Safe Work Australia
Case study scenarios	Not provided	5 case studies (Appendix 2)	10 scenarios (Appendix A)	Varies by CoP
Example risk register	Not provided	Yes (Appendix 6)	Yes (Appendix B — 2 entries)	Varies by CoP
Hazard categories in appendix	16 categories with detailed examples/controls (Appendix C)	14 categories — situation examples (Appendix 3) + control examples (Appendix 4)	Hazards embedded in Table 1 descriptions	Varies by CoP
Hazard identification tool	Yes (Appendix B — 7 information source categories)	Not provided as separate appendix	Not provided as separate appendix	Not provided as separate appendix
Sexual harassment definition	Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) s 92(1)	Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)	Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)	Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)
Gendered violence	Separate hazard category (Appendix C)	Addressed under SGBH provisions	Not a separate category	Not a separate category
Employer-provided accommodation	Explicitly included — r 4(d)–(e)	Not specifically highlighted in Division 11	Not specifically highlighted	Not specifically highlighted
Regulator	WorkSafe Victoria	Office of Industrial Relations (Qld)	SafeWork NSW	N/A
Regulator contact	1800 136 089 / [email protected]	1300 362 128	13 10 50 / [email protected]	N/A