As the deployment of AI rapidly reshapes Australian workplaces, employers and employees alike grappling are with the impacts on people, culture and organisational practice.
Recent regulatory and policy developments, including the Federal Government’s National AI Plan and NSW’s expanded focus on psychosocial hazards, are accelerating union and regulator scrutiny of how AI is introduced into workplaces.
To support members navigating this shift and as part of our Q1 event program, AREEA is launching a new webinar stream AI at Work, designed to give practical guidance on identifying and managing workplace risks associated with AI adoption.
The first webinar in this stream to be held on 12 March 2026 is Psychosocial risk in the age of AI: What leaders need to know featuring Dr Georgi Toma, a leading expert in psychosocial risk and workplace mental health. Dr Toma will examine how digital transformation and AI adoption are reshaping job demands, workplace stress and role clarity and how AI is shifting from a tech issue to a critical WHS consideration.
Where AI and psychosocial risk intersect
One of the most common impacts of AI adoption is job insecurity and anxiety. Where automation, algorithmic decision-making or monitoring systems are introduced without transparency, workers report fear of redundancy, uncertainty about future skills relevance and reduced control over career pathways. This uncertainty is a well-established psychosocial hazard linked to stress, disengagement and declining wellbeing.
AI systems can also dramatically increase the pace of work with tools designed to optimise output or scheduling often increasing cognitive load and tightening performance metrics.
Another related issue is the loss of autonomy and control. AI-enabled task allocation, rostering and decision support can limit discretion, reduce opportunities for judgment and make it difficult for workers to challenge or override system outputs. Reduced autonomy is a core psychosocial risk factor under WHS frameworks.
Psychosocial risks also arise from perceived unfairness and opacity, particularly where AI is used in recruitment, performance assessment or disciplinary processes. Lack of explainability, perceived bias and limited avenues for human review are closely linked to stress, mistrust and workplace conflict.
Other emerging risks include skills mismatch and cognitive strain, where workers are expected to supervise or correct AI systems without adequate training; social isolation due to AI-enabled workflows that reduce human interaction; and surveillance-related stress.
What this means for employers
The clear lesson from current evidence is that AI itself is not the hazard. The risk lies in poor design, rushed implementation and weak governance. Regulators in several jurisdictions are now explicitly connecting AI deployment to psychosocial risk duties, signalling this will remain a growing compliance and workforce issue.
Best-practice responses include early and meaningful consultation, transparent communication about purpose and limits, human oversight of AI decisions, integration of AI into psychosocial risk assessments, and sustained training and change management.
Join us on 12 March to stay ahead of regulatory expectations and workforce risk as this transformation unfolds.
Register now for AREEA’s 2026 Q1 Webinar Program
Leading effective organisational change to promote workplace wellbeing
Elisa Walther – Principal Consultant Psychologist at EAP provider Assure
Thursday 26 February
12:30–1:30pm AEST
Psychosocial risk in the age of AI: What leaders need to know
Dr Georgi Toma – Founder, Heart Brain Works
Thursday 12 March
12:30–1:30pm AEST
Strategies for respectful and inclusive workplaces
Dr Cheryl Yam – Research Fellow at Curtin University’s Future of Work Institute and Organisational Psychologist Registrar
Thursday 26 March
12:30–1:30pm AEST
Inclusive workplaces for FIFO Families: Strategies for retention and wellbeing
Vicky Pellowe – Founder of The FIFO Family Project
Thursday 28 May
12:30–1:30pm AEST
