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Northern Territory Psychosocial Risk Management Plan

A complete, editable plan for managing psychosocial risk in a Northern Territory workplace: the plan and policy, the tools to identify and assess the hazards, a risk register, procedures for reports and incidents, and a way to check it is working.

  • TerritoryNorthern Territory
  • RegulatorNT WorkSafe
  • Task or hazardManaging psychosocial risk
  • DocumentsManagement plan
  • FormatsWord (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), editable
  • CodeDOC-PSNT-PLAN
  • Version1.0 · 2.3 MB ZIP

About the Northern Territory Psychosocial Risk Management Plan

The Northern Territory Psychosocial Risk Management Plan is a complete, editable plan for managing psychosocial risk in a Northern Territory workplace, for businesses in the Northern Territory, and the WHS advisers and HR managers who support them. It is aligned to the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT) and the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011 (NT), including the Regulations' psychosocial provisions, the Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice, with the Sexual and Gender Based Harassment Code of Practice, the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 (NT), the Return to Work Act 1986 (NT), and the positive duty under Commonwealth sex discrimination law. It includes the plan, a psychosocial policy and a cross-reference to the Northern Territory Regulations and codes of practice; a hazard identification checklist, worker consultation survey and focus group guide; an Excel risk register and a control library for each hazard; and reporting, investigation and review tools, a sexual harassment prevention plan and a 90-day implementation plan. Everything is editable Word or Excel, delivered as an instant download.

Psychosocial hazards, such as high job demands, low job control, poor support, poorly managed change, bullying, harassment, violence and aggression, have to be managed like any other risk to health and safety. The Northern Territory is a harmonised WHS jurisdiction, and its Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations set out how: a business must manage psychosocial risks, having regard to how often, how severely and for how long people are exposed, how hazards interact or combine, the design of the work and the systems of work, the workplace and any workers' accommodation, and workplace interactions or behaviours. The Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice gives practical guidance, and the Sexual and Gender Based Harassment Code of Practice guidance on that risk. This plan gives a small or medium business a practical way to do it, in one set of documents written to work together.

It follows the risk management process: plan, identify the hazards, assess and control the risk, respond to reports and incidents, and monitor and review. Each step has its tools: a hazard identification checklist to check against the code of practice, a work design walk-through, a worker consultation survey and focus group guide, an Excel risk register that assesses how often, how severely and for how long people are exposed, a control library built on the hierarchy of control, procedures for reports, investigations and traumatic events, guidance on notifying NT WorkSafe, and a sexual harassment prevention plan built on the Commonwealth positive duty and the Territory's own.

It is aligned to the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT) and the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011 (NT), including the Regulations' psychosocial provisions, the Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice, with the Sexual and Gender Based Harassment Code of Practice, the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 (NT), the Return to Work Act 1986 (NT), and the positive duty under Commonwealth sex discrimination law. Consultation with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs) runs through every step. It uses the same hazards and the same approach as our psychosocial risk training: control the work, not the worker, and check that the controls work. Everything is editable Word or Excel, with a setup guide and a 90-day implementation plan. It is a framework to adapt and put into practice with your workers, not a substitute for doing so.

Who it is for

  • Small and medium businesses in the Northern Territory without a safety or HR department
  • Owners and managers who need to put a psychosocial risk process in place
  • WHS advisers and HR managers setting one up for the organisation they support
  • Businesses that have done the training and need the plan and tools to apply it

What it helps you do

  • Identify the psychosocial hazards in your work, with the workers who do it and their HSRs
  • Assess and record each risk, and choose controls that change the work rather than the worker
  • Respond to reports and incidents consistently, and know when to notify NT WorkSafe
  • Take reasonable and proportionate measures to prevent sexual harassment
  • Show officers and workers what has been done, and check the controls are working

What is included in the Northern Territory Psychosocial Risk Management Plan

Delivered as one ZIP download. The files below are editable, and every Word document also comes as a PDF. Each download also includes Read Me First, a Product Overview, the Permitted Use Terms and Version Information (PDF).

FileFormatWhat it is for
90-Day Implementation PlanWord (.docx)A week-by-week plan for the first 90 days: who to involve, what to do first, and what should be in place by the end.
Setup GuideWord (.docx)What to adapt before use, in order: your organisation's details, who does what, your consultation arrangements with workers and HSRs, how to notify NT WorkSafe, and every placeholder in the plan and its tools.
NT Regulations and Code Cross-ReferenceWord (.docx)Maps the psychosocial provisions of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations (NT), each step of managing psychosocial risks under the Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice, with the Sexual and Gender Based Harassment Code of Practice, and the Territory's other laws, to the section of the plan, or the tool, that deals with it.
Psychosocial PolicyWord (.docx)A short policy for the business to adopt and sign: its commitment, what it expects of managers and workers, and how to raise a concern.
Psychosocial Risk Management PlanWord (.docx)The plan itself: scope, roles and responsibilities, consultation with workers and HSRs, how hazards are identified, assessed and controlled, how reports are handled, workers compensation and return to work, and how the controls are monitored, reviewed and revised.
Data Sources ChecklistWord (.docx)The information the business already holds (leave, turnover, complaints, incidents, workers compensation claims through your insurer, exit interviews) and what each can show about psychosocial risk.
Focus Group GuideWord (.docx)A facilitator's guide to a small-group discussion with workers: questions, ground rules, and how to record what is raised without identifying anyone.
Hazard Identification ChecklistWord (.docx)A checklist of the psychosocial hazards, named as in our psychosocial risk training, to check against the Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice, each with prompts on how it shows up in the work and space to record where it is present, and room to add others, such as fatigue, and to note how hazards combine.
Work Design Walk-Through GuideWord (.docx)A guide to walking through the work with the workers who do it: what to look for in job design, workload, support, change and working relationships.
Worker Consultation SurveyWord (.docx)A short, anonymous worker consultation survey on the psychosocial hazards, with how to run it and report the results back to workers and HSRs.
Change Impact AssessmentWord (.docx)Checks a planned change (a restructure, new system, new roster or relocation) for psychosocial risk before it is made, with consultation of workers and HSRs built in.
Control LibraryWord (.docx)The hierarchy of control for psychosocial risks, which the Northern Territory's Regulations apply to them: eliminate the risk first, then change the design and management of the work before relying on information, training, instruction and supervision. Example controls for each hazard, to adapt to your work rather than copy as they are.
Psychosocial Risk RegisterExcel (.xlsx)An Excel register of each exposure: the role or work area and who is exposed, how often, how severely and for how long, how hazards interact or combine, the consequence, the existing controls and whether they have been checked, the risk rating, further controls, owners, due dates and review.
Investigation RecordWord (.docx)The record of a basic investigation: the concern raised, who was interviewed, the evidence, the findings, the outcome and the follow-up.
NT WorkSafe Notification GuideWord (.docx)When an incident must be notified to NT WorkSafe (a death, a serious injury or illness, or a dangerous incident), how to notify, and how to preserve the site, with a record of the notification.
Reporting and Response ProcedureWord (.docx)How reports are received, triaged and responded to, with a report form and a triage guide: confidentiality, support for the people involved, timeframes and record keeping.
Sexual Harassment Prevention PlanWord (.docx)A written plan to prevent sexual harassment and related unlawful conduct, built on the Commonwealth positive duty and the Territory's own positive duty under its Anti-Discrimination Act, with the Sexual and Gender Based Harassment Code of Practice: the risks, the measures, who is responsible and how it is reviewed.
Traumatic Event Response ProcedureWord (.docx)What to do after a traumatic event at work: immediate safety and support, who to tell, follow-up in the weeks after, and the return to normal work.
Workplace Investigation ProcedureWord (.docx)A short, generic procedure for a basic workplace investigation: planning, interviews, findings, outcome and follow-up. Serious or complex matters need specialist advice.
Annual Plan Review ChecklistWord (.docx)A checklist for the yearly review of the whole plan: is it in use, are the controls effective, what has changed, and what to revise.
Officers' Due Diligence ReportWord (.docx)A report for officers (owners, directors, senior managers): the main exposures, whether the controls relied on have been checked, accepted exposures, open matters by age, and the questions to ask. Facts, not a status colour.
Psychosocial MeasuresExcel (.xlsx)An Excel workbook of leading and lagging measures for psychosocial risk: where the data comes from, who reports it and how often, the trigger for action, and the trend.
Quarterly Review Meeting AgendaWord (.docx)An agenda for a quarterly review: the register, reports and trends, the results of control checks, actions due, and a decision on every item.

How the plan works

Each folder is one step of the risk management process, and each tool feeds the next: what you find in the identify step goes into the risk register, reports and incidents feed back into it, and the review step checks the controls are working and revises them when they are not.

FIRST

Start here

  • Setup guide: what to adapt, and every placeholder
  • 90-day implementation plan
  • Read Me First, Product Overview, Permitted Use Terms and Version Information
STEP 1

Plan

  • Psychosocial risk management plan: scope, roles, consultation and process
  • Psychosocial policy to adopt and sign
  • Cross-reference to the Northern Territory Regulations and codes of practice
STEP 2

Identify

  • Hazard identification checklist, to check against the code of practice, with room for other hazards
  • Work design walk-through guide
  • Data sources checklist
  • Worker consultation survey and focus group guide
STEP 3

Assess and control

  • Psychosocial risk register (Excel)
  • Control library by hazard, most effective first
  • Change impact assessment
STEP 4

Report and respond

  • Reporting and response procedure, with a report form and triage guide
  • Workplace investigation procedure and record
  • Traumatic event response procedure
  • NT WorkSafe notification guide
  • Sexual harassment prevention plan
STEP 5

Monitor and review

  • Psychosocial measures, leading and lagging (Excel)
  • Quarterly review meeting agenda
  • Annual plan review checklist
  • Officers' due diligence report

Set it up for your organisation

Before you adopt it, adapt the plan to:

  • Your organisation: its name, structure, sites, the work done and who does it
  • Who owns the plan, and who does what: officers, managers, supervisors, workers and HSRs
  • Your consultation arrangements: HSRs, a health and safety committee or other agreed arrangements
  • Your reporting lines, support services (such as an employee assistance program) and contacts, and how to notify NT WorkSafe
  • Your existing policies and procedures, so the plan links to them rather than repeats them
  • Review the plan after a report, an incident or a significant change, and on the schedule you set

What you need

  • Someone to own the plan, with time to set it up: often the owner or a manager, with a WHS or HR adviser
  • Your organisation's structure, roles and consultation arrangements (HSRs, a health and safety committee or other agreed arrangements)
  • Time to consult workers: the survey, walk-throughs and focus groups are where the hazards are found
  • The information you already hold: leave, turnover, complaints, incidents and workers compensation claims
  • Specialist advice for complex matters, such as a serious investigation or a legal question

Before you use it

  • The plan is licensed for internal use by the purchasing organisation. A WHS or HR adviser can set it up for a client that has bought it; using it with other clients needs our written permission.
  • The plan must be adapted to your organisation, your work and the hazards you find, in consultation with your workers, before it is adopted.
  • Using the plan does not by itself make a workplace compliant with WHS laws. It supports the work of managing psychosocial risk; it is not legal advice.

Northern Territory Psychosocial Risk Management Plan: questions

Do I need a psychosocial risk management plan in the Northern Territory?

You need to manage psychosocial risks, and a written plan is the clearest way to show how you do it. The Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations (NT) require a business to manage psychosocial risks like any other risk to health and safety, and the Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice gives practical guidance on how. Your duties are met by managing the psychosocial risks in your actual workplace, so far as is reasonably practicable, in consultation with your workers. The plan sets out how you do it and who does what, and gives you the records that show it.

What should a psychosocial risk management plan include?

It should cover the whole risk management process: who is responsible and how workers and their HSRs are consulted, how the hazards are identified, how each risk is assessed (how often, how intensely and for how long people are exposed, and how hazards combine), the controls, changing the work before relying on training or support, how reports and incidents are handled, and how the controls are checked and the plan reviewed. This plan has a part for each, with the tools to do it: a hazard identification checklist, a consultation survey, a risk register, a control library, reporting and investigation procedures, a sexual harassment prevention plan, and quarterly and annual reviews.

Does this plan make us compliant?

No. No plan can do that on its own. Your duties are met by managing the psychosocial risks in your actual workplace, so far as is reasonably practicable, in consultation with your workers and their HSRs. The plan gives you the structure and the tools to do that, and a record that you have. Using the plan does not by itself make a workplace compliant with WHS laws. It supports the work of managing psychosocial risk; it is not legal advice.

Is it only for the Northern Territory?

Yes. It is written for workplaces in the Northern Territory and refers to the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT), the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011 (NT), the Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice, the Sexual and Gender Based Harassment Code of Practice, the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 (NT), the Return to Work Act 1986 (NT) and NT WorkSafe. Northern Territory public sector employees are covered by the Return to Work Act, with the Territory as a self-insurer, and follow their agency's workers compensation and return to work procedures. The positive duty to prevent sexual harassment under Commonwealth sex discrimination law applies across Australia.

Is there a version for other states?

Yes. There is a Psychosocial Risk Management Plan for every state and territory and for Comcare: the NSW plan is written to the NSW Work Health and Safety Act and Regulation and the SafeWork NSW codes of practice, the Victorian plan to Victoria's own occupational health and safety laws, and the Queensland, Western Australian, South Australian, Tasmanian, ACT and Northern Territory plans to each one's WHS laws and codes. The Comcare plan is for Commonwealth agencies and other workplaces under the Commonwealth WHS laws. An organisation with workers under more than one WHS law needs the plan for each. See the psychosocial risk management plans.

What do the Northern Territory's WHS laws require for psychosocial risks?

The Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations (NT) require a business to manage psychosocial risks like any other risk to health and safety: identify the hazards, eliminate the risks so far as is reasonably practicable or, if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise them, and review the controls. The general rules for managing risk apply, the hierarchy of control included: change the design and management of the work before relying on information, training, instruction and supervision. In deciding on controls it must have regard to all relevant matters, including the duration, frequency and severity of exposure, how hazards interact or combine, the design of the work, the systems of work, the design, layout and conditions of the workplace and of any workers' accommodation, the plant, substances and structures at the workplace, workplace interactions or behaviours, and the information, training, instruction and supervision given to workers. The Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice gives practical guidance. The plan is built on that process.

Which codes of practice apply in the Northern Territory?

The Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice and the Sexual and Gender Based Harassment Code of Practice, both in force in the Northern Territory from 23 May 2024 and approved under its Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act. NT WorkSafe lists the other approved codes, such as the general codes on managing risks and on consultation. The Act does not separately require you to follow an approved code, but a court can use one as evidence of whether a duty was met and of what is reasonably practicable. You can manage the risks another way if it gives the same or a better standard of health and safety, and record how. The plan's cross-reference maps each step of managing psychosocial risks to the plan and its tools.

Do we still need training?

Usually, yes. A plan only works when managers and workers know what psychosocial hazards are, how to report them and what to do with a report. The Psychosocial Risk training packages cover that at every level, from awareness for all workers to leadership, practitioner and executive governance, and use the same hazards and approach as the plan. The Implementation Toolkit adds deeper tools, such as role-based risk assessment and control verification, and the toolbox talks cover single hazards such as bullying, sexual harassment, aggression, lone work and fatigue. See the Psychosocial Risk training packages.

Does it include an investigation procedure?

Yes, a short, generic one: how to plan a basic workplace investigation, conduct interviews, reach findings and record the outcome, with a record template. It suits straightforward matters. For a serious, complex or contested matter, or one that may lead to dismissal, use an experienced investigator or get legal advice.

Does it cover sexual harassment?

Yes. It includes a sexual harassment prevention plan built on the positive duty under Commonwealth sex discrimination law, which requires employers to take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate sexual harassment and related unlawful conduct, as far as possible. The Northern Territory's WHS laws do not require a written prevention plan, but one is the clearest way to show what you have done. Sexual harassment is also a psychosocial hazard under those laws, and the Sexual and Gender Based Harassment Code of Practice gives guidance on managing the risk, so the risk register and the reporting procedures cover it too. Sexual harassment is also unlawful under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 (NT), which has a positive duty of its own, in force since 2 January 2024: a business must take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation to the greatest extent possible. Complaints can be made to the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner. The plan's policy and procedures are written with that in mind.

Who should set it up?

Someone who knows the organisation and can make decisions about how the work is done: often the owner or a senior manager, with a WHS or HR adviser, consulting workers and their HSRs. The setup guide and the 90-day implementation plan set out what to do, and in what order.

Can a WHS or HR adviser use it with clients?

The plan is licensed for internal use by the purchasing organisation. A WHS or HR adviser can set it up for a client that has bought it; using it with other clients needs our written permission. The simplest way is for each client to buy its own copy, which you then adapt with them.

Can we edit the documents?

Yes. Every document is supplied in Word (.docx) or Excel (.xlsx), so you can add your logo, change the wording and adapt it to your workplace. The copyright notice must stay.

Do we need to adapt it before use?

Yes. The plan must be adapted to your organisation, your work and the hazards you find, in consultation with your workers, before it is adopted. The setup guide lists what to change, and the 90-day implementation plan the order to do it in.

Is GST included in the price?

Yes. Every price in the store includes GST, so $449.00 is the total, including $40.82 GST. Your receipt is a tax invoice showing the GST.

How are the files delivered?

As a ZIP download. Card purchases can be downloaded straight away from the confirmation page and by a link we email you. Download links expire after 14 days for security; you can request a new one at any time.

Can we order by invoice, or for several sites?

Yes. Use Request an Invoice to order through your normal procurement process, with a purchase order number and quantities if you need them. The files are released once payment is confirmed.

Can we use them at more than one site?

Yes, across your own organisation. The documents are licensed for internal use by the purchasing organisation. A consultant, labour hire business or training provider supplying them to clients needs separate written permission.

What is your refund policy?

Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law are not affected. See the Refund Policy for how we handle a document that is faulty, not as described, or not what you ordered.

Licence and legal information here is general. It may not be correct in your jurisdiction: please check with your local WHS or OHS regulator.

Ordering for a business or several sites? Request an invoice. Other questions: contact us.

Training that goes with it

The plan sets up the process; training gives managers and workers what they need to use it. The Psychosocial Risk packages cover every level, and the toolbox talks brief the team on one hazard at a time.

Psychosocial Risk Awareness

For: All employeesDuration: 45–60 minutes

A practical introduction for every worker: what psychosocial hazards are, how work creates exposure, and how to raise a concern.

What's included
  • Editable PowerPoint presentation
  • Facilitator guide and participant workbook
  • Hazard identification activity
  • Knowledge assessment and completion certificate

Psychosocial Risk Leadership

For: Supervisors, team leaders and managersDuration: 3–4 hours

For supervisors and managers who shape how work is designed, allocated and checked every day.

What's included
  • Editable 46-slide presentation and detailed facilitator guide
  • Four management scenarios from operational workplaces
  • Team risk assessment and PRRR™ control planning tools
  • Completion certificate and training records

Psychosocial Risk Practitioner

For: Whoever is responsible for WHS in your businessDuration: One day

A full day on role-based risk assessment, control selection, critical controls and verification.

What's included
  • Editable 49-slide presentation and detailed facilitator manual
  • Full case pack and three worked risk assessment examples
  • Role-based risk assessment workbook (Excel) and worksheets
  • Assessments, completion certificate and training records

Executive Psychosocial Risk Governance

For: Business owners, directors and senior managersDuration: 90–120 minutes

For executives and directors: oversight, assurance and the questions that test whether controls are working.

What's included
  • Editable 28-slide executive presentation and facilitator guide
  • Briefing workbook and completion certificate
  • Risk reporting example: the same report done two ways
  • Governance scenario and assurance checklist

Psychosocial Risk Implementation Toolkit

For: Small and medium businesses, and whoever runs WHS in them

Editable assessment, response, recovery and review tools organised by the four PRRR stages.

What's included
  • Role-based psychosocial risk assessment
  • Risk register and control selection worksheet
  • Response, recovery and review tools
  • Implementation guide

Workplace Bullying and Harassment Awareness

For: All workersDuration: 20–30 minutes

For every worker: what bullying and harassment are, what they are not, and how to raise a concern or support a colleague.

What's included
  • Editable slides with speaker notes, plus PDF
  • Facilitator guide and participant handout
  • Multiple-choice assessment with answer key
  • Attendance record form and certificate template

Sexual Harassment Awareness

For: All workersDuration: 20–30 minutes

For every worker: what sexual harassment is, the employer's positive duty to prevent it, and how to report it or support someone who has experienced it.

What's included
  • Editable slides with speaker notes, plus PDF
  • Facilitator guide and participant handout
  • Multiple-choice assessment with answer key
  • Attendance record form and certificate template

Workplace Violence and Aggression Awareness

For: All workersDuration: 20–30 minutes

For workers who deal with customers, clients, patients or the public: recognising warning signs, staying safe, and reporting every incident.

What's included
  • Editable slides with speaker notes, plus PDF
  • Facilitator guide and participant handout
  • Multiple-choice assessment with answer key
  • Attendance record form and certificate template

Lone and Remote Work Awareness

For: Workers who work alone, remotely or in isolated locationsDuration: 20–30 minutes

For workers who are on their own or a long way from help: what can go wrong, and the communication and check-in controls that bring help quickly.

What's included
  • Editable slides with speaker notes, plus PDF
  • Facilitator guide and participant handout
  • Multiple-choice assessment with answer key
  • Attendance record form and certificate template

Fatigue Awareness

For: All workersDuration: 20–30 minutes

For every worker, and especially shift workers and long-hours workers: what causes fatigue, how it affects safety, and what the business and worker each do about it.

What's included
  • Editable slides with speaker notes, plus PDF
  • Facilitator guide and participant handout
  • Multiple-choice assessment with answer key
  • Attendance record form and certificate template