Analysis of Safe Work Australia’s Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Report: Focus on Mental Health in the Workplace

Apex Site Safety Audits has conducted a detailed analysis of the recent data released by Safe Work Australia concerning mental health in the workplace. Mental health has become a critical area of concern within Australian occupational health and safety frameworks, particularly in high-risk sectors such as construction, where psychological injuries are increasingly reshaping the management of workplace risks and workers' compensation. While traditional hazards like falls from height, machinery incidents, and manual handling injuries remain prevalent in construction environments, psychological injuries now present a rapidly growing challenge for principal contractors, site managers, subcontractors, and employers across Queensland and other jurisdictions.

Our review indicates that mental health compensation claims in Australia reached 17,600 in 2023-24, accounting for 12% of all serious workers' compensation claims. The data shows a 161% increase in mental health claims over the past decade, with affected workers experiencing a median of 35.7 weeks off work and median compensation of $67,400. These statistics highlight the highest growth rate and cost burden among all workplace injury categories in Australia’s National Data Set for Compensation-based Statistics.

The primary causes identified include harassment and workplace bullying (33.2% of mental health claims), work pressure (24.2%), and exposure to violence and harassment (15.7%). Notable gender disparities exist, with mental health claims comprising 17.2% of female workers’ total claims compared to 8.2% for male workers.

This analysis draws from Safe Work Australia’s Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2025 report, published in October 2025.

Workplace Mental Health Claim Statistics – Volume and Growth Trends

Mental health conditions accounted for 17,600 serious workers’ compensation claims in 2023-24p, representing 12.0% of all serious workplace injury claims in Australia. This marks an increase of 2,300 claims, or 14.7%, from the previous year. Over the longer term, mental health claims have risen by 10,900 claims since 2013-14, reflecting a growth of 161.1%. This constitutes the largest percentage increase among any injury or disease category in the National Data Set for Compensation-based Statistics during this period.

The proportion of serious workers' compensation claims attributed to mental health has shown consistent growth, escalating from 6.2% in 2013-14 to 12.0% in 2023-24p. For context, mental health claims have increased by 161.1% over the decade, while all other injury types combined grew by only 26.1%. This disparity indicates that mental health claims are expanding at approximately 6.2 times the rate of other injury types, signalling a profound shift in the Australian workers' compensation landscape.

The divergence between mental health claims and other injury categories has intensified in recent years. The 14.7% year-on-year growth from 2022-23 to 2023-24p underscores that this is not a transient surge but a persistent trend with no indication of stabilisation. This ongoing escalation positions mental health as a key driver of workers' compensation claim volume growth, with significant implications for prevention strategies and scheme sustainability, particularly in industries like construction where psychosocial risks compound physical hazards.

Mental Health Compensation Costs: Duration and Payment Data

Mental health workplace claims stand out as the most costly category in Australian workers' compensation, based on metrics of workplace absence duration and financial compensation. In 2022-23, the median time lost from work for mental health claims was 35.7 weeks, compared to 7.4 weeks across all serious claims—a ratio of 4.8 to 1. This means mental health claims lead to nearly five times longer absences than other workplace injuries and diseases.

The financial impact is equally pronounced, with median compensation for mental health claims at $67,400 in 2022-23, versus $16,300 for all other claim types—a ratio of 4.1 to 1. These extended durations and elevated payments result in mental health claims consuming a disproportionate share of workers' compensation resources relative to their overall frequency.

Mental health claims predominantly fall into the high-cost, long-duration category that strains compensation systems. Data from 2022-23 shows that claims involving 13 or more weeks of time lost represented just 21.9% of total claims but accounted for 74.8% of compensation payments, totalling $5.4 billion. With a median duration of 35.7 weeks, mental health claims significantly contribute to this high-cost segment, posing challenges for scheme sustainability and premium structures in sectors like construction.

What Causes Workplace Mental Health Claims in Australia?

Mental health compensation claims are classified under the 'Mental stress' mechanism, which accounted for 16,800 serious claims in 2023-24p, or 11.5% of all serious claims. Safe Work Australia’s system identifies three main sub-categories that collectively represent nearly three-quarters of mental health-related claims, offering insights into workplace factors driving these issues.

Harassment and workplace bullying form the largest single category, comprising 33.2% of mental stress claims. This encompasses interpersonal conflicts, repeated hostile behaviors, and unreasonable actions, highlighting the role of workplace culture in psychological injury. Work pressure follows at 24.2%, covering excessive workloads, unrealistic deadlines, resource shortages, and role conflicts—common in fast-paced construction environments. Exposure to violence and harassment accounts for 15.7%, often affecting workers in client-facing or high-stress roles. The remaining 26.9% includes other psychological stressors, such as organisational changes or traumatic events.

Mental Health Claims by Gender, Age, and Socioeconomic Demography

Gender disparities are evident in mental health claims, with these conditions representing 17.2% of serious claims among female workers in 2023-24p, compared to 8.2% for males—a ratio of 2.1 to 1. This suggests that workforce demographics may influence mental health risk profiles, though factors like occupational distribution and help-seeking behaviours require consideration. Overall, female workers' claims had a median time lost of 7.7 weeks and median compensation of $14,600, versus 7.2 weeks and $17,600 for males, potentially reflecting wage differences or claim management variations.

The report lacks comprehensive age-specific data for mental health claims alone. However, overall serious workers' compensation claims indicate higher frequency rates and costs with advancing age. Workers aged 55-64 and 65+ show elevated rates (9.5 and 10.0 claims per million hours worked, respectively), potentially extending to mental health trends, as older workers may experience compounded stressors from long-term exposure to high-risk environments like construction. Younger workers (under 25) have lower frequency rates (5.3 claims per million hours), but mental health claims in this group could be influenced by factors such as inexperience or transitional work pressures, though disaggregated ratios are not available.

Socioeconomic demography, often linked to occupation, industry, and income levels, also influences mental health claims, though direct disaggregated data is limited.

Labourers, community and personal service workers, and machinery operators and drivers—roles typically associated with lower socioeconomic groups—have the highest overall serious claim frequency rates (23.1, 15.3, and 12.1 claims per million hours worked, respectively). These occupations likely correlate with higher mental health risks due to factors like job insecurity, physical demands, and exposure to psychosocial hazards.

Studies indicate that workers in lower socioeconomic brackets experience higher psychological distress, with compensation claims showing elevated rates among those reliant on workers' compensation as a primary income source. In construction, which accounts for 12.0% of serious claims, socioeconomic factors may exacerbate mental health issues through precarious employment or limited access to support services, though specific ratios (e.g., claims by income quartile) are not quantified in the report.

Industries with Highest Mental Health Claim Rates

The report does not disaggregate mental health claims by industry, but overall serious claims provide indicators. Four sectors account for 51.2% of claims despite representing 36.3% of covered jobs: health care and social assistance (19.9%), construction (12.0%), manufacturing (10.1%), and public administration and safety (9.2%).

Frequency rates highlight agriculture, forestry and fishing (10.0 claims per million hours), public administration and safety (9.6), transport (9.4), manufacturing (9.4), and health care (9.3). Construction's prominence in absolute claims underscores the need for targeted mental health strategies in this sector.

Comparative Analysis – Mental Health vs Other Workplace Injuries

Mental health falls under the 'diseases and conditions' category, which comprised 33.5% of serious claims in 2023-24p (49,100 claims), versus 66.5% for physical injuries (97,600 claims). Mental health accounted for 12.0% of all serious claims, while musculoskeletal diseases represented 15.3%.

The diseases category has grown from 26.1% in 2013-14 to 33.5% in 2023-24p, driven partly by mental health. Index analysis (2013-14 = 100) shows mental health at 261 in 2023-24p, versus 126 for other injuries—over double the growth rate.

Broader trends show median time lost increasing by 35.1% over a decade, with long-duration claims rising from 13.3% to 21.9%. Mental health contributes significantly to this severity shift.

Discrimination as a Factor in Mental Health Claims

Discrimination in the workplace is a critical yet often under-recognised contributor to mental health claims, intersecting with categories like harassment and bullying. Under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld), discrimination based on protected attributes (e.g., sex, age, race, disability, sexual orientation) can manifest as psychological harm, leading to compensable claims under WHS laws.

In construction, where diverse workforces are common, discrimination may exacerbate mental stress through exclusionary practices, biased task allocation, or hostile environments. Safe Work Australia data indirectly links this to harassment (33.2% of claims), as discriminatory behaviours often underpin bullying or violence.

Apex Site Safety Audits recommends integrating anti-discrimination measures into WHS systems, including:

Regular training on protected attributes and inclusive practices.

Robust reporting mechanisms for discrimination incidents.

Audits to identify systemic biases in policies or culture.

Collaboration with regulators like the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

Addressing discrimination not only reduces mental health risks but also ensures compliance with positive duties to prevent such conduct, fostering safer, more equitable sites.

Data Sources and Methodology – Workers Compensation Statistics

This analysis by Apex Site Safety Audits is based on Safe Work Australia’s Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2025 report, drawing from the National Data Set for Compensation-based Statistics. Data covers 2023-24p (preliminary) and 2022-23 (final), with trends from 2013-14.

Compensation statistics capture only accepted claims, representing about 30.5% of work-related injuries per ABS surveys. Mental health under-claiming may be higher due to stigma or eligibility concerns.

Classifications use the Type of Occurrence system, with mental health under 'diseases' and 'mental stress' mechanisms. Preliminary data (marked 'p') may be revised.

What Mental Health Claim Statistics Mean for Australian Employers?

Mental health claims' high costs (4.8:1 duration ratio, 4.1:1 compensation ratio) demand greater resource allocation for case management and replacements. Growth trends (161.1% over 10 years, 14.7% year-on-year) require recalibrating forecasts and budgets.

Primary causes offer intervention targets: culture for bullying, workload management for pressure, and protocols for violence. Gender differentials suggest demographic considerations in risk profiling.

In con these statistics emphasise integrating psychosocial audits with physical safety checks. Apex Site Safety Audits advises analysing internal data for tailored strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mental Health Workers' Compensation Australia

How many mental health workers' compensation claims are there in Australia? 17,600 serious claims in 2023-24, or 12.0% of all serious claims (one week+ off work).

Are mental health workers' compensation claims increasing? Yes, by 161.1% over 10 years and 14.7% year-on-year.

How long are workers off work for mental health claims? Median 35.7 weeks, versus 7.4 weeks for others.

What is the average payout for mental health workers' compensation in Australia? Median $67,400, over four times the $16,300 for others.

What are the main causes of mental health workers' compensation claims? Harassment/bullying (33.2%), work pressure (24.2%), violence/harassment (15.7%).

Which workers have the highest rate of mental health compensation claims? Females (17.2% of claims) vs. males (8.2%); high-risk occupations like labourers.

Which Australian industries have the most mental health claims? Health care (19.9%),

construction (12.0%), manufacturing (10.1%), public administration (9.2%).

About This Analysis

This analysis by Apex Site Safety Audits is based on Safe Work Australia’s 2025 report, using national data from state, territory, and Commonwealth schemes. Preliminary 2023-24p data may be revised. Apex specialises in construction WHS, offering audits, training, and strategies to address mental health risks.