Safe Work Australia
SWA
1 November 2009 – present
Statutory agency, jointly funded by the Commonwealth, states and territories, that develops national policy on work health and safety and workers' compensation, maintains the model work health and safety laws and publishes national data.
How it came into existence
Established on 1 November 2009 under the Safe Work Australia Act 2008, implementing the 2008 Intergovernmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety. It replaced the Australian Safety and Compensation Council and took over the staff and work of the Office of the ASCC in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
- National WHS and workers' compensation policy
- Secretariat and research staff of the Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council
Legislation: Safe Work Australia Act 2008
Changes during its life
- 18 September 2013Portfolio responsibility passed to the Department of Employment.
- 1 July 2022Became part of the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio when the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations was established.
Main functions
- Developing and maintaining the model WHS Act, regulations and codes of practice
- National workers' compensation policy
- National WHS and workers' compensation data and research
- Workplace exposure standards
- WHS awareness campaigns
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Employment and Workplace Relations
- Accountable authority
- Chief Executive Officer – Safe Work Australia Act 2008 section 5(2)(b)
- ABN
- 81 840 374 163
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))