ABSTRACT
Australian workers’ exposure to chronic occupational stress is an increasingly widespread and expensive problem costing the Australian economy approximately $15 billion per annum, of which approximately $5 billion is specifically attributed to lost work productivity. These costs for occupational stress are comparable with international estimates, demonstrating that occupational stress is truly a global predicament. In Australia, individual-level compensation claims for psychological injury attributable to working conditions are channeled through specific state and territory bodies and overseen by national legislation. Australian research addressing occupational stress follows international trends and demonstrates, for example, the significant impacts of workplace conflicts (e.g., bullying, harassment, toxic leaders), inadequate job conditions (e.g., job designs, working hours, work-life imbalance), and adverse organizational climates, which impact employee health and performance. This chapter reviews the key Australian occupational stress research, encompassing both common international trends and topics more unique to Australia (e.g., the impact of geographic distance, extreme heat, dangerous wildlife). Finally, we identify future directions for occupational stress research in Australia, including the impact of technology, interventions, and changes in work practices.
