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An employer should have assessed an employee who was showing "evident signs" of mental health issues at work and then moved her to another role, the High Court has ruled in upholding her psychiatric injury appeal.

In February 2012, the solicitor in the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions' specialist sexual offences unit (SSOU) was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of work-related vicarious trauma. As part of her role, she routinely interacted with trauma survivors and attended court to instruct in sexual assault trials.

She subsequently sought damages in the Supreme Court, arguing the employer failed to prevent her psychiatric injury...