The State of Victoria, Australia, is taking a decisive step forward in workplace safety. From 1 December 2025, new Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health). Regulations will require employers to actively prevent psychological harm in the workplace; treating mental wellbeing with the same seriousness as physical safety.

Under these regulations, employers must:

• Identify and manage psycho-social hazards such as bullying, sexual harassment, aggression, and exposure to trauma.
• Develop prevention plans for these hazards.
• Undertake regular risk monitoring
• In certain cases, report complaints to WorkSafe Victoria.

This marks a significant cultural and legal shift. Psychological health will no longer be addressed through optional guidance, instead it will be embedded in enforceable workplace obligations. By contrast, the UK currently relies on guidance and voluntary standards, with no dedicated legal duty to report psychological harm or maintain structured prevention plans so far.

Moral Injury

Moral injury refers to the deep psychological, emotional, or spiritual distress that occurs when someone perpetrates, witnesses, or is unable to prevent actions that conflict with their core moral beliefs or values. The concept was first clearly defined in the 1990s by psychiatrist Jonathan Shay, who described moral injury as arising from:

“A betrayal of what is morally correct by someone who holds legitimate authority, in a high-stakes situation.”

— Shay, J. (1994). Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character. New York: Scribner.
In the helping professions, already stretched and under-resourced, moral injury can be a hidden but powerful force, contributing to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and disengagement.

Trauma Informed Practice

Trauma informed practice recognises the pervasive effects of trauma (including moral injury) and seeks to create environments rooted in safety, trust, empowerment, and resilience. Victoria’s new regulations reflect these principles: they require employers to identify risks of trauma exposure and structurally mitigate them, reducing the likelihood of re-traumatisation and protecting staff wellbeing. Trauma
Informed supervision is a key element in protecting staff from psychological harm including moral injury.

Safe Supervision

Trauma informed supervision is a structured, safe space that:

• Helps staff process vicarious trauma and moral distress.
• Normalises emotional responses, thereby reducing shame.
• Builds resilience and self-awareness.
• Encourages trust, empathy, and open reflection.

Safe supervision fosters a climate of psychological safety; a shared belief that staff wellbeing is valued and protected. This climate is linked to reduced absenteeism, stronger engagement, and fewer stress-related injuries. In practice, supervision becomes one of the frontline defences against psychological harm at work.

A New Era for the Helping Professions

Victoria’s OHS (Psychological Health) Regulations therefore represents more than legal reform; it signals a shift in workplace culture. By mandating prevention-focused systems and embedding trauma informed approaches (including good quality, safe supervision), they move organisations from reacting to harm towards foreseeing and preventing it. This is the pathway to workplaces that are not only physically safe but also psychologically safe—resilient, empathetic, and sustainable.

Upcoming Learning Opportunities with TICS

Full-day online training: Trauma-Informed Supervision with Amelia Bunt.
30 September 2025 – FULL
18 November 2025 – Limited places remaining

Amelia Brunt is a qualified teacher with nearly 30 years in the education sector and over 12 years’ experience supervising education staff. She holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision and is trained in the Neurosequential Model of Reflective Supervision, grounding her work in regulation and relationships. Amelia specialises in supporting adults who work with children and families facing adversity, stress, and trauma, providing clinical reflective supervision to education and third sector professionals to foster trauma-informed practice and promote both personal and professional wellbeing.

Also, keep an eye out for Lisa’s next book in the conversations series (out at the end of 2025): Conversations That Make a Difference for Practitioners: Caring for the People Who Care