Agency Information Guide

The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act) provides the public an enforceable right to access government information, unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure. To assist the public, each agency publishes an Agency Information Guide (AIG).

The SafeWork NSW (SWNSW) AIG describes the basic structure and functions of SWNSW, the various kinds of information we hold, and how members of the public can access this information.

SWNSW is committed to ensuring that the NSW community can access information about SWNSW easily and at the lowest reasonable cost.

AIG last reviewed August 2025.

                                          

About us

On 1 July 2025, SafeWork NSW (SWNSW) was established as an Executive Agency related to the Department of Customer Service (DCS). SWNSW is the state’s work health and safety regulator and is headed by the SafeWork Commissioner, who reports directly to the Minister for Work Health and Safety.

SWNSW administer, provide advice, and monitor and enforce compliance with the:

Together with the NSW Environment and Protection Authority (EPA), we administer, provide advice and monitor and enforce compliance with the:

Find more information about the acts and regulations relating to work health and safety (WHS), explosives and the transportation of dangerous goods.

SWNSW is committed to improving health and safety in NSW workplaces and engages with the NSW community to prevent work‑related fatalities and serious injuries and illnesses. We deliver on this commitment through the implementation of a five-year strategic plan. The plan outlines our strategic objectives and outcomes.

The functions of SWNSW have a direct effect on the NSW community. We work with the NSW business community, industry, unions and workers to prevent accidents and improve workplace health and safety. We also provide advice on improving work health and safety and investigate workplace incidents and complaints.

We are dedicated to using the best regulatory practices to make decisions based on solid evidence. Our services focus on the needs of our stakeholders, ensuring fairness and transparency, and maintaining the trust of the NSW community.

Please see the SWNSW Annual Regulatory Statement (PDF, 3903.9 KB) . Find more information about SWNSW.

Our Code of Ethics and Conduct

As a regulator, individuals across NSW are affected by how we perform our functions. SafeWork NSW employees are required to act in the public interest and are bound by the values described in our Code of Ethics and Conduct, being:

  • Integrity
  • Trust
  • Service
  • Accountability.

How the public can participate in what we do

SafeWork NSW has many ways you can participate in the work we do. Your feedback is important to guide and develop our regulatory approach to deliver improved outcomes to the NSW community.

We welcome your feedback, questions, comments and complaints. Please see our Contact us page for further information.

Our business areas may, on occasion, provide an opportunity for the public to make submissions on discussion papers, blueprints and reports. Have your say.

Subscribe to our content

You can participate by subscribing to our mailing lists, newsletters and social media pages.

Visit our subscription centre to subscribe to our newsletters or manage your subscription preferences.

SafeWork publishes the following newsletters:

  • SafeWork Wrap – monthly newsletter featuring the latest workplace health and safety news, general information and regulatory updates.
  • Health Care and Social Assistance Sector – quarterly newsletter keeping you up to date on work health and safety in the health care and social assistance sector.

Complaints and feedback

SafeWork NSW is committed to providing excellent customer service and we invite you to submit your questions, complaints or feedback.

Visit SafeWork’s customer feedback page and contact us page.

SafeWork NSW incident response and investigations – Customer Service Standard

Our Customer Service Standard outlines the investigation process and what you can expect from us when we undertake an investigation under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

This Customer Service Standard also outlines how we will communicate with those directly affected by or involved in the investigation process, such as:

  • persons seriously injured and/or their next of kin
  • next of kin for persons fatally injured; and
  • businesses, workers and other duty holders involved in the incident.

Information access

SafeWork NSW (SWNSW) keeps records associated with our core functions. While performing our core functions, SWNSW may collect, store, use and disclose personal information of members of the public in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIP Act). Find more information about privacy practices at SWNSW.

What kinds of government information does SWNSW hold

We hold a range of information including:

  • financial records: journals, reconciliation, bank statements, budgets, invoices, and purchase orders
  • records obtained and collated as part of SWNSW delivering its core functions: complaints and investigative information
  • customer records: records of customers’ interactions with various divisions within SWNSW including through call centres, and digital services
  • service partnership agreements: legal agreements setting out the terms and conditions of agencies’ arrangements with SWNSW
  • personnel records: employee remuneration, performance appraisal and recruitment records
  • executive records: executive and other committee minutes and correspondence
  • human resource management records: relating to human resource management policies and practices
  • information technology records: relating to information technology planning, acquisition, installation, and disposal; including user and system manuals
  • communication records: media releases, news clippings, marketing collateral, brand guidelines, presentations
  • policy and procedural manuals: documenting SWNSW policies and operational procedures.

What kind of government information is made available to the public and how

We make information available under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) in four ways:

  • open access information
  • proactive release of information
  • informal access
  • formal access.

Open access information

Under the GIPA Act, we are required to make certain information available, free of charge. This is called "open access information" and includes:

Our Annual Reports contain further information concerning the operations and financial affairs of SafeWork NSW.

SWNSW is required to provide access to information about the agency that has been tabled in Parliament by or on behalf of SWNSW. More information can be found here:

Some publications may only be available upon payment of a fee, but we will let you know if that is the case. We produce a range of publications, surveys, reports and other resources.

Proactive release of information

SafeWork NSW’s (SWNSW) considers the kinds of government information held by the agency that may be suitable for proactive release in accordance with the DCS Proactive Release of Government Information Policy.

We release as much government information as possible on our website. If you can't find what you need, you can email gipa@safework.nsw.gov.au to make a request. Our website includes a wide range of information such as policies, projects and other resources.

We are committed to making our data publicly available where possible. Certain data is available on the SafeWork Australia interactive data website.

Informal access

The GIPA Act authorises the release of government information in response to an informal request unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure (section 8 of the GIPA Act).

If we haven't freely published the information you seek, in some circumstances we may be able to release it to you without the need for a formal access application. We generally provide the following types of information in response to an informal request:

  • your personal information
  • copies of correspondence sent to us by you
  • applications and supporting documents sent to us by you
  • documents that may have already been made public in some other way
  • other reasonable requests for release of information that would not raise any potential public interest or privacy concerns.

This form of release does not require a fee or an application form. Information may be released with deletions, released subject to reasonable conditions, or released in a preferred form. We may impose conditions on the use or disclosure of information that we release in response to an informal request.

If you would like to make an informal request for information, please email the SafeWork NSW Right to Information team at gipa@safework.nsw.gov.au.

Requests for your own personal information can also be made under the PPIP Act. For further information on SafeWork NSW’s privacy practices, or to apply for access to your personal or health information, please see our privacy page.

Formal access

If the information you are looking for is not already published by us or available by informal request, you may wish to make a formal access application in writing under the GIPA Act. Formal access applications are subject to application fees and processing charges. We will not release information if there is an overriding public interest against its disclosure.

An access application must include the following five things:

  • be in writing and addressed to the agency
  • clearly state that the information is requested under the GIPA Act
  • include the $30 application fee
  • include the applicants name, an email address or return postal address for correspondence in connection with an application
  • include such information as is reasonably necessary to enable the government information applied for to be identified.

If a formal access application does not meet the above requirements, it will be invalid and the application will not be processed. However, in order to assist applicants in making a valid application, we will make contact to provide advice and assistance.

You can make a formal access application for information held by SafeWork NSW using our online application form.

If you're unable to complete the online application form, please contact the SafeWork NSW Right to Information team at gipa@safework.nsw.gov.au for other application options. For more information, see our right to information webpage.

Formal access application fee and processing charges

Apart from the $30 application fee, the GIPA Act allows SWNSW to impose a charge of $30 per hour to process an application. The application fee counts towards the first hour of processing.

In processing a formal access application, SWNSW is required to ensure that it is dealt with efficiently and provides access to information requested at the lowest reasonable cost.

A 50% discount in processing charges will apply if an applicant demonstrates they fall within any of the following categories:

  • a member of the public suffering financial hardship
  • the information applied for is of special benefit to the public
  • the holder of a current Pensioner Concession Card
  • full-time students
  • non-profit organisations.

Please note that the 50% discount applies only to processing charges and not to the $30 application fee.

If applying for your own personal information only, processing charges are not applied for the first 20 hours of processing.

Decision making process

Information which may not be disclosed

You cannot access information excluded under Schedule 1 and 2 of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act), such as information related to the complaint handling and investigative functions conferred by or under any other Act, or Cabinet or Executive Council information. That information is ‘excluded information’ under the GIPA Act. 

For some information categories, while you may apply for access, there is a presumption against release. See the list of categories set out at Schedule 1 of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009.

You can find out more about your right to information by visiting the Information Privacy Commissioner NSW website.

Internal Review

You may seek a review of a formal decision under section 5 of the GIPA Act. If you wish to apply for an internal review the application fee is $40.

More information about your review rights under the GIPA Act can be found in a fact sheet from the Information and Privacy Commission. You can also contact the IPC on 1800 472 679.

Information and Privacy Commission

The Information and Privacy Commission NSW (IPC) promotes and protects information access rights in NSW and provides information, advice, assistance and training for agencies and individuals on information access matters.

Visited the website to learn more about your rights and agency obligations.

Contact

For further information, please contact the SafeWork NSW Right to Information team on (02) 9289 1600 or by email at gipa@safework.nsw.gov.au.

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