Yarra Trams: leading the way in psychosocial safety.
How standardised psychosocial risk intelligence transformed board-level safety governance for Melbourne's tram network.
Melbourne's iconic tram network.
Yarra Trams operates the world's largest light-rail network, with a diverse workforce spanning drivers, maintenance teams, depot operations, and corporate functions.
The world's largest light-rail network
Across metropolitan Melbourne
Annual passenger boardings
Diverse roles across operations
Navigating new psychosocial safety obligations.
With the introduction of Victoria's OHS (Psychosocial Health) Regulations 2025, organisations became legally required to proactively identify, assess, and manage psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
Yarra Trams recognised the importance of understanding their current position relative to these new obligations and sought a clear, evidence-based roadmap to strengthen their approach to psychosocial safety.
A phased project, starting with the Safe Minds Index®.
InCheq partnered with Yarra Trams on a multi-phase project, beginning with a comprehensive Psychosocial Safety Gap Analysis and Maturity Assessment across ten compliance domains, benchmarked against industry.
Gap analysis
Assessed current policies, systems, and practices against regulatory requirements across all ten compliance domains.
Maturity assessment
Evaluated organisational maturity using the five-level framework, from Basic through to Optimising.
Industry benchmarking
Compared Yarra Trams' position against transport sector benchmarks to identify relative strengths and priorities.
Strategic roadmap
Developed a phased transformation plan with clear milestones, quick wins, and long-term capability building.
- Victorian OHS (Psychosocial Health) Regulations 2025
- WorkSafe Victoria Compliance Code
- Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice
- ISO 45003:2021
Strengths identified.
The assessment revealed that Yarra Trams had already built a strong foundation through its existing safety culture and infrastructure, providing significant advantages in extending coverage to psychosocial safety.
Mature safety culture
Well-established physical safety systems, visible leadership commitment, and embedded safety conversations across the organisation.
Comprehensive support systems
Existing EAP, return-to-work coordination, Mental Health First Aiders, and dedicated trauma leave provisions.
Extensive policy framework
Policies covering flexible work, fatigue management, workplace adjustments, and inclusion.
Active consultation mechanisms
Established HSR networks and OHS Committee structures enabling genuine worker voice.
Several domains exceeded industry benchmarks, reflecting Yarra Trams' longstanding investment in worker safety and wellbeing.
The assessment gave us a clear, practical view of where we stand and what we need to strengthen. InCheq's approach was straightforward, evidence-based, and grounded in how our operations actually work. The roadmap they delivered gives us confidence that we're heading into the new regulations with the right focus and a solid plan.
Measurable results, clear direction.
InCheq's assessment delivered actionable intelligence that allowed Yarra Trams to integrate psychosocial hazard management into existing systems, building capability efficiently.
- A clear understanding of the organisation's psychosocial safety position relative to new regulatory requirements.
- A phased transformation roadmap endorsed by the Senior Leadership Team.
- Board paper approved by the Safety First Committee, committing to implementation.
- Organisation positioned to proceed to the next phase of psychosocial risk assessment and capability building in 2026.
Phase 2: psychosocial risk assessment.
Phase 2 commenced in Q1 2026 and comprises a comprehensive psychosocial risk assessment.
Employee survey
Capturing the experience of Yarra Trams' workforce in the context of common psychosocial hazards.
Mixed-methodology risk assessment
Blending quantitative survey data with qualitative feedback from worker and HSR consultation.
- Phase 1 Gap Analysis & Maturity Assessment December 2025 · Completed
- Phase 2 Psychosocial Risk Assessment Q1 2026 · In progress
The complete case study, in one PDF.
Includes the regulatory context, methodology summary, findings, board outcomes, and next-phase plan.
Issued with Yarra Trams' permission · Commercial-in-confidence