The People at Work Survey Is Being Phased Out – What This Means for Your Business

This change reflects major developments in legislation, research, and best practice for managing psychosocial hazards at work. For businesses, it’s an important moment to pause and ask: Are we still meeting our psychosocial risk obligations under the Model Code of Practice?

Why Is the People at Work Survey Being Phased Out?

Since the PAW survey was first introduced, the landscape of psychosocial risk management has evolved significantly.

At a national level, it has been recognised that the PAW survey:

  • Requires modification to adequately address additional psychosocial hazards, including sexual harassment and isolated or remote work
  • Has shown a decline in staff engagement and response rates, reducing its effectiveness
  • Provides limited post-survey detail to support targeted, practical action
  • Would require significant investment to update and redesign
  • Has been overtaken by new evidence-based tools that are shorter, more precise, and better aligned to current research

As a result, Safe Work Australia has decided to decommission the survey and platform.

Key Dates Businesses Need to Know

Organisations that have used, or planned to use, the PAW survey should be aware of the following timelines:

  • 1 June 2026 – Final date for new organisations to register on the PAW platform
  • 1 July 2026 – Final date for new surveys to be launched
  • 2 October 2026 – Final date to access the platform and extract reports

Further information regarding data access and privacy will be provided by Safe Work Australia.

What Does the PAW Survey Being Decommissioned Mean for Businesses?

Importantly, the removal of the PAW survey does not remove your legal obligations.

Under WHS legislation, PCBUs must still:

  • Identify psychosocial hazards
  • Assess psychosocial risks
  • Implement appropriate control measures
  • Review and adjust controls over time

Psychosocial risk management is not a one-off activity or a single survey. It requires an ongoing, systematic approach that reflects how work is actually performed in your organisation. If your business has relied heavily on PAW in the past, now is the right time to review whether your current approach still aligns with current legislation and the Model Code of Practice.

Are Businesses Still Required to Manage Psychosocial Hazards?

Yes — and enforcement expectations are increasing.

Psychosocial hazards such as:

  • High job demands
  • Low job control
  • Poor organisational support
  • Role ambiguity
  • Exposure to traumatic events
  • Sexual harassment
  • Isolated or remote work

must be managed in the same way as physical hazards.

Regulators are increasingly expecting organisations to demonstrate:

  • Evidence of hazard identification
  • Risk-based decision making
  • Consultation with workers
  • Practical, implemented controls
  • Ongoing review and monitoring

A legacy survey alone is no longer enough.

Best Practices What Should Organisations Do Now?

Rather than simply replacing PAW with another survey, best practice now involves:

1.

Using contemporary psychosocial assessment tools aligned to current legislation

2.

Combining survey data with consultation, qualitative insights, and operational data

3.

Focusing on practical controls and system changes, not just risk scores

4.

Embedding psychosocial risk management into leadership, WHS systems, and everyday operations

If you’re unsure whether your current approach meets these expectations, that uncertainty itself is a signal to act.

How Employ Health Can Help

At Employ Health, we support organisations to move beyond tick-box compliance by providing:

  • Psychosocial risk assessments aligned to the Model Code of Practice
  • Evidence-based tools designed for real-world workplaces
  • Clear, actionable reporting that supports meaningful change
  • Ongoing support to implement, review, and refine controls over time

Whether you’ve used the PAW survey in the past or are starting fresh, we can help you understand where you stand and what to do next.

Employ Health can assist Ready to learn more or need help crafting a return-to-work strategy?

Contact Employ Health to discuss your psychosocial risk obligations and ensure your workplace remains compliant, safe, and healthy.

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