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Notification of incidents
Last updated January 2026
This chapter explains when and how to notify the health and safety regulator of an incident in your workplace.
What are your incident notification obligations?
You are required to notify your health and safety regulator of notifiable incidents that occur in your workplace.
Important: The model Work Health and Safety Act (WHS Act) was updated in December 2025 to extend notification duties to:
- work-related (or suspected work-related) suicide or attempted suicide of a worker, and the suicide or attempted suicide of other persons in specific settings (i.e. notifiable extended absence); and
- worker absences of more than 15 calendar days due to psychological or physical injury, illness or harm arising out of conduct of the business or undertaking (i.e. notifiable suicide or attempted suicide).
These changes do not apply unless adopted in your jurisdiction.
- work-related (or suspected work-related) suicide or attempted suicide of a worker, and the suicide or attempted suicide of other persons in specific settings (i.e. notifiable extended absence); and
- worker absences of more than 15 calendar days due to psychological or physical injury, illness or harm arising out of conduct of the business or undertaking (i.e. notifiable suicide or attempted suicide).
These changes do not apply unless adopted in your jurisdiction.
Tip: Click here to download a helpful fact sheet on the changes from Safe Work Australia.
The notification requirements for each jurisdiction differ slightly and are set out in the table below:
| Jurisdiction and regulator | Notification requirements | Form |
|---|---|---|
| ACT WorkSafe ACT |
You must give notice immediately and by the fastest possible means. If requested by the Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulator, you must provide written notice within 48 hours. | Notifiable Incident Report Form |
| NSW SafeWork NSW |
You must give notice immediately and by the fastest possible means. If requested by the WHS regulator, you must provide written notice within 48 hours. | Notifiable Incident Form |
| NT NT WorkSafe |
You must give notice immediately and by the fastest possible means. If requested by the WHS regulator, you must provide written notice within 48 hours. | Notifiable Incident Form |
| Qld WorkSafe Queensland |
You must give notice immediately and by the fastest possible means. If requested by the WHS regulator, you must provide written notice within 48 hours. | Notifiable Incident Form |
| SA SafeWork SA |
You must give notice immediately and by the fastest possible means. If requested by the WHS regulator, you must provide written notice within 48 hours. |
Notifiable Incident Form |
| Tas WorkSafe Tasmania |
You must give notice immediately and by the fastest possible means. If requested by the WHS regulator, you must provide written notice within 48 hours. | Notifiable Incident Form |
| Vic WorkSafe Victoria |
You must give notice immediately after becoming aware, and provide a written report on the approved form within 48 hours. | Incident Notification Form |
| WA WorkSafe WA |
You must give notice immediately (by telephone or filling out the prescribed form). | Notification of Injury Form |