We’re inviting all students and staff to share feedback on the draft Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) Policy 2026, which is proposed to replace the longstanding Work Health and Safety (WHS) Policy and Procedures 2016. The updated draft reflects how students learn, participate, research and connect across our campuses today, and aims to support a safer, healthier and more inclusive University community.

By reviewing and providing feedback on the draft policy, you can help shape how we create a safer, healthier and more supportive environment for all students.

Read the draft policy and share your feedback on the Policies webpage.

What’s new in the policy

A broader focus on wellbeing — not just safety

The current WHS Policy focuses on physical safety and compliance. The new draft expands this to include health, safety and wellbeing – recognising mental health, inclusion and psychosocial safety as essential to student life. This means the draft better reflects real student experiences across learning spaces, placements, fieldwork, clubs, societies and campus life.

A clearer and more practical structure

While the 2016 policy is built around a traditional safety management system, the new draft introduces a clearer structure: a Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) Framework, HSW Principles and HSW Standards. These outline what students can expect from the University and how risks are managed in teaching, research and other activities.

Updated roles and responsibilities that include students

The new draft streamlines responsibilities to reflect modern learning environments. Students are recognised as active partners in creating a safe and respectful community, with clearer expectations around reporting hazards or incidents, participating in training when required, and looking out for themselves and others.

Better alignment with the way students study, research and engage

The draft applies across:

• on campus learning
• remote study
• placements
• fieldwork
• research collaborations
• international activities
• University sanctioned events.
• It also aligns with contemporary standards, such as ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety management systems, and strengthens approaches to emergency preparedness, incident learning and psychosocial safety.

If you have any questions, please contact safety.wellbeing@sydney.edu.au.