Anstey v Mambourin Enterprises Ltd

Anstey v Mambourin Enterprises Ltd concerned a dispute between an employee, Ms Anstey, and her employer, Mambourin Enterprises Ltd. The matter came before Riley J of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether Mambourin Enterprises Ltd had breached its duty of care to Ms Anstey by failing to take reasonable steps to prevent her from suffering a psychological injury arising from her employment. Specifically, the Court had to consider the nature and extent of the employer's duty to protect an employee from foreseeable harm, including psychological harm, in the workplace.

Riley J found that Mambourin Enterprises Ltd had breached its duty of care to Ms Anstey. The Court reasoned that the employer was aware of the stressful and demanding nature of Ms Anstey's role and the potential for her to suffer psychological harm. Despite this knowledge, the employer failed to implement adequate measures to manage the risks associated with her employment, such as providing sufficient support or adjusting her workload. The Court applied the established legal principles regarding an employer's duty of care, emphasising that this duty extends to protecting employees from foreseeable psychological injury.

The Court ordered that Mambourin Enterprises Ltd pay damages to Ms Anstey for the psychological injury she suffered as a result of the employer's breach of duty.