Work related stress represents a huge cost for worker health and ­productivity and is broadly regarded as an important social ­determinant of global health. The Australian Workplace Barometer (AWB) project was developed in order to provide national benchmarks needed to develop best practice standards in the area of worker psychological health and wellbeing. It provides a step towards social action and work environments that will stimulate problem solving, creativity and innovation at work rather than despair through compromised health and wellbeing.