This Act creates a body called Safe Work Australia to improve work health and safety outcomes and workers' compensation arrangements in Australia.

Safe Work Australia mainly consists of members who represent the Commonwealth, the States, the Territories, workers and employers (see section   10).

It has various functions relating to work health and safety and workers' compensation (see section   6). For example, one of its functions is to develop and evaluate a model WHS legislative framework.

The Ministers of the Commonwealth, the States and the Territories who are responsible for WHS (collectively known as the WHS Ministers) have some oversight of Safe Work Australia's activities. For example, the WHS Ministers consider whether to approve the model WHS legislative framework developed by Safe Work Australia for adoption by the Commonwealth, the States and the Territories.

Safe Work Australia has a CEO who is responsible for its administration and for assisting it to perform its functions. It is also assisted by its staff, its committees and others.