Suicide and Mental Health in the NSW Workers Compensation Scheme
SIRA has commissioned research to better understand suicide and mental health within the NSW Workers Compensation Scheme (the Scheme), and to identify opportunities to strengthen prevention and support.
Following a competitive request for tender, SIRA appointed Sage Design & Advisory Pty Ltd, in partnership with Wellways, to lead this research.
The project will build an evidence base to help SIRA better understand factors that may increase suicide risk for people with a workers compensation claim and explore how early identification, prevention and postvention responses can be strengthened across the Scheme.
The research will examine:
- factors that may contribute to suicide risk for people with a claim
- people’s experiences with existing prevention and support services
- opportunities to improve early identification and response
- available data and insights to inform best practice approaches
- how insurers, healthcare providers and community organisations can work together to better support people experiencing distress.
SIRA will work with the research partner and sector stakeholders to translate the findings into practical, evidence-based actions to strengthen prevention, improve early intervention and support better outcomes for people interacting with the Scheme.
All data is collected, used and managed in accordance with privacy legislation and strict ethical research standards.
Partners
- Sage Design & Advisory Pty Ltd
- Wellways
Project commenced: February 2026
Expected project completion: TBC
This content discusses suicide and mental health. If you find this topic distressing, support is available. You can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au.
National Centre for Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing
SIRA, in collaboration with icare and SafeWork NSW, is investing $5.4 million as an establishment partner of Mentally Healthy Workplaces Australia (MHWA).
Established by Monash University, MHWA is a national centre focused on innovation and research to improve workplace psychological health and safety, strengthen return to work outcomes and support the use of evidence-based approaches across workplaces.
The investment forms part of the NSW Government’s broader $344 million Workplace Mental Health package and its commitment to preventing psychological injury at work.
This initiative responds to the 2023 Standing Committee on Law and Justice Review of the NSW Workers Compensation Scheme, which recommended stronger collaboration across research functions.
By supporting MHWA, SIRA is contributing to a nationally coordinated, evidence-based approach to improving psychological safety, reducing workplace absence related to mental health conditions and strengthening scheme sustainability.
Through this investment, MHWA aims to:
- Co-create a national strategy for workplace mental health and wellbeing.
- Develop and implement evidence-based programs that improve psychological safety and workplace productivity.
- Support reductions in workplace absence related to mental health conditions.
- Improve return to work outcomes for people with a psychological injury.
This initiative supports improved recovery through work outcomes in the NSW workers compensation scheme and contributes to stronger, mentally healthy workplaces across Australia.
Partners:
- Monash University - Lead organisation for MHWA
- Insurance and Care (icare)
- SafeWork NSW
- More than 40 establishment partners across government, industry and academia
Project commenced: September 2025
Expected project completion: TBC
Completed projects
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Mental health and COVID-19 in small and micro businesses
SIRA commissioned the University of Newcastle (UON) to undertake qualitative research into the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of small and micro business owners.
The project included literature reviews and in-depth interviews with micro and small business owners to better understand stressors, coping mechanisms and support needs during prolonged crisis conditions. The micro-business study was completed, with the small business study progressing through case studies.
Small and micro businesses formed a significant part of the NSW economy, yet most workplace mental health research and interventions were designed for large organisations.
COVID-19 created prolonged uncertainty, financial pressure and operational disruption. Understanding how these pressures affected business owners’ mental health strengthened the evidence base for tertiary mental health interventions and informed future crisis response measures.
The research identified key themes impacting mental health, including:
- Financial pressure and uncertainty.
- Perceived loss of control and obligation to meet client demand.
- Operational challenges during shutdowns and reopening.
- Loneliness in sole-operated micro-businesses.
- The importance of professional and peer networks.
Recommendations included adapting mentally healthy workplace strategies for micro-business contexts, leveraging industry networks, strengthening targeted business capability training, and improving access to peer support and networking opportunities.
Partners:
- University of Newcastle (UON)
Project completion: June 2022
Further resources
- When size matters: creating mentally healthy workplaces: a literature review of workplace mental health approaches in micro- and sole – operator business context - PDF
- Crisis in small business: a literature review - PDF
- COVID-19 and small business owners report on stage one findings - PDF
- Mental health of Australian micro-business owners: final research grant report - PDF
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Work-connected interventions for people with psychological injuries
SIRA engaged Monash University to explore how psychological injury claims could be better prevented and managed across the NSW workers compensation and CTP schemes.
The project brought together research evidence, stakeholder insights and expert input, with a focus on improving recovery and supporting people to stay at or return to work.
Psychological injury claims were more complex and longer in duration than physical injury claims, and often had lower return to work rates.
Improving how these claims were identified, supported and managed was essential to delivering better recovery outcomes for injured people and maintaining a sustainable scheme.
Key findings of the research project:
- Early support and coordinated action significantly improved recovery outcomes.
- Employers played a critical role in supporting safe and sustainable return to work.
- Healthcare providers and case managers needed clear, practical guidance when managing psychological injury claims.
- There was currently no clearly defined model of care for psychological injury within compensation schemes.
- There was an opportunity to implement a more consistent, evidence-informed and outcome-focused approach across the schemes.
SIRA has published the Mental health recovery and support action plan in response to the recommendations.
Partners:
- Monash University
Project completion: March 2021
Further resources
All project reports from Monash University are now available.
- Existing evidence report Work-connected interventions for people with psychological injuries - PDF
- Literature review Existing evidence on work-connected interventions for people with psychological injuries (one page summary) - PDF
- Survey report Psychological injury claims program - survey report - report 2 - PDF
- Workshop summary report Psychological injury claims project - workshop summary - report 3 - PDF
- Final report Psychological injury claims project synthesis report project - report 4 - PDF
Contact us on 13 74 72 or email SIRAresearch@sira.nsw.gov.au for more information and research funding opportunities.
Updated 6 May 2026