Articles

The amended Heavy Vehicle National Law commences on 1 August 2026 — four weeks from now. The parties and the core duty are unchanged, but documented, risk-based safety management becomes the standard businesses are measured against. Here is the 8-point readiness check covering policy, risk, controls, contracts, training, records, incident response and executive due diligence.…

Since 1 July 2026, WHS codes of practice are enforceable in New South Wales. Under new section 26A of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), every business must follow approved codes — including the psychosocial hazards code — or prove its own approach is equal or better. An inspector no longer needs to…

Mental health first aid is the help you give to someone developing a mental health problem, or in a crisis — until appropriate professional help is found or the crisis resolves. Like physical first aid, it’s an initial response, not a diagnosis or treatment. In Australia, the nationally accredited equivalent is the unit PUARCV001 Provide…

A Melbourne food wholesaler has been fined a record $3.4 million for workplace manslaughter after a worker fell about four metres to his death — the largest fine ever imposed for a single offence under Victoria’s workplace safety laws. Sentenced on 25 June 2026, the case is a blunt warning to every business that puts…

Which forklift course do I need for a warehouse job in Brisbane? The LF forklift licence course (TLILIC0003), the counterbalance licence most warehouse and distribution centre job ads ask for. At FMS Training it is $499 weekday or $599 weekend at our Lawnton training centre, a short drive from the Brendale, Strathpine and Narangba warehouse…

Yes — psychological first aid is accredited when it is delivered as the nationally recognised unit PUARCV001 Provide Psychological First Aid by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). On successful assessment you receive a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment listed on training.gov.au. Many “mental health first aid” programs, by contrast, are not nationally recognised vocational training.…

Serious psychological injury claims have reached a record 17,600 a year in Australia — up 14.7 per cent in a single year — with affected workers off work for a median 35.7 weeks and median compensation of $67,400, according to Safe Work Australia’s latest national statistics. For employers, the data confirms psychological injury is now…

Under Chain of Responsibility (CoR), fatigue is everyone’s duty — not just the driver’s. The Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) makes each party in the supply chain, from schedulers and operators to consignors and consignees, legally responsible for ensuring transport activities don’t cause, encourage or require a driver to exceed work-and-rest limits or drive while…

Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) names 10 party functions — consignor, consignee, packer, loader, unloader, loading manager, operator, prime contractor, scheduler and employer. If your business performs any of these functions for a heavy vehicle, you are a CoR party and you owe a safety duty — regardless…

Psychological first aid for managers is the practical skill of noticing when a team member is in distress, responding with structured support, and connecting them to help — without stepping into counselling. Since psychosocial risk became an enforceable workplace duty, training people-leaders in accredited psychological first aid (PUARCV001) is one of the clearest, most defensible…