SWMS Template VIC: Safe Work Method Statements for Victoria
If you do high-risk construction work in Victoria — Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Mornington Peninsula or anywhere in between — you need a Safe Work Method Statement before the work starts. This page sets out exactly what WorkSafe Victoria expects, what's different about VIC, and how our editable templates handle it.
VIC at a glance
| Regulator | WorkSafe Victoria |
|---|---|
| Primary Act | Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) |
| Regulation | Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic) |
| SWMS duty | regulation 327 — SWMS required before high-risk construction work (regulation 322) |
| Fall height that makes work high-risk | 2 m |
| Health and Safety Coordination Plan required when | $350,000 or more |
| Who holds the duty | The employer or self-employed person |
| Construction induction | Construction induction card issued by WorkSafe Victoria |
| Harmonised? | No — Victoria is not harmonised with the national model WHS laws — it runs its own OHS system. |
Verified against WorkSafe Victoria and Safe Work Australia publications, September 2026. Laws change — the regulator's site is the final word.
The VIC trap most templates fall into
Victoria never adopted the harmonised WHS laws. It's OHS, not WHS; 'employer', not PCBU; a 'health and safety coordination plan', not a WHS management plan; 'compliance codes', not codes of practice; and 19 high-risk activities, not 18. A WHS Act template with the state changed is wrong in Victoria.
That's why we don't sell one national template with the state name swapped. Each pack is built against that state's Act, Regulation and terminology, and reviewed when the legislation moves.
What a VIC SWMS has to contain
Whatever the state, the regulator wants the same four things, in plain language, on a document the crew will actually read:
- the high-risk construction work being done, described specifically — not "carpentry", but "installing roof trusses at 3.4 m on a two-storey dwelling"
- the hazards and the risks to health and safety that come with that work
- the control measures you will use, following the hierarchy of controls — eliminate first, PPE last
- how those controls will be put in place, monitored and reviewed, and by whom
Plus the practical parts inspectors check: the name and ABN of the business, the site address and principal contractor, the date, evidence of consultation with the workers doing the job, and signatures. It must be kept on site, readily available, until the work is finished.
Who needs one in Victoria
Every employer or self-employed person whose workers carry out high-risk construction work. That includes the sole-trader subbie with one apprentice. The head contractor's SWMS does not cover you, and yours does not cover them. If you are the principal contractor, you must also obtain and review every subcontractor's SWMS before their high-risk work begins.
What's in the VIC pack
The same 30+ document set as every state — Health and Safety Coordination Plan, generic and trade-specific SWMS (heights, demolition, excavation, electrical, plumbing), inductions, toolbox talks, incident and inspection forms, registers, and the contract and payment paperwork in the Full Bundle — written against the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic).
See the full document list → · Download the free sample SWMS →
Frequently asked — VIC
Is a SWMS legally required in Victoria?
Yes. Regulation 327 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic) requires a SWMS to be prepared before high-risk construction work starts, and regulation 322 defines what counts as high-risk.
What is the fall height for high-risk work in VIC?
2 m. Any construction work with a risk of a person falling more than that distance is high-risk construction work and needs a SWMS.
When do I need a Health and Safety Coordination Plan in VIC?
When the project reaches $350,000 or more. The principal contractor prepares it; every subcontractor's SWMS should be attached to it.
Will an interstate white card work in VIC?
Construction induction card issued by WorkSafe Victoria.
Can I use a VIC template in another state?
Not safely. Fall heights, project thresholds, regulation numbers and even the name of the Act change at the border. Pick the right state: QLD · NSW · WA · SA · TAS · ACT · NT.
General information only — not legal advice. Check the WorkSafe Victoria construction guidance for your obligations.