Australian AAWI Conference Program – 20 October 2017

Theme: Practical Justice

Fairness is not an abstract concept. It is essentially practical. Whether one talks in terms of procedural fairness or natural justice, the concern of the law is to avoid practical injustice (per Gleeson CJ in Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs; Ex parte Lam (2003) 214 CLR 1 at [37])

Date of Conference: 20 October 2017

Venue: The Adina Hotel, 189 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Session / Speaker / Topic
9am – 9.15am Introduction and Welcome / Karen Streckfuss (Barrister, Co-Convenor AAWI) / Welcome, Introduction to the Association and the Conference
First Morning Session
Chair Karen Streckfuss
9.15am – 10am / Opening Speaker
The Hon Professor Peter R A Gray AM
Retired Justice of the Federal Court / “Fearless or Fraught – The Investigator’s Approach”
10am – 10.30am / Commissioner Tanya Cirkovic of the Fair Work Commission / “Avoiding Practical Injustice – Observations from the Bench regarding Investigations”
10.30am to 10.50am - Morning Tea
Second Morning Session
Chair – Peta Nowacki
10.50am – 12.30pm / John Boardman (iHR Australia)
Renato Marasco (RACV In House Counsel)
Bryan Cook (Ashdale) / “Practicalities and Pitfalls – Put it to the Panel”
·  John Boardman – Managing the expectations of the Parties (10.50am – 11.10am)
·  Renato Marasco – Mopping up the mess post investigations – how investigators can help (11.10am – 11.30am)
·  Bryan Cook – Fairness in taping interviews (11.30am – 11.50am)
·  Panel – 11.50am – 12.30pm
12.30pm – 1.15pm - Lunch
First Afternoon Session
Chair – Sue Mitra
1.15pm – 2.15pm / Emma Starkey (Maurice Blackburn)
Joanna Betteridge (Betteridge Legal Consulting, Monash University) / “Practical justice – towards fairness in workplace investigations”
·  Emma Starkey – What does Practical Justice look like for Complainants and Respondents? (1.15pm – 1.45pm including questions)
·  Joanna Betteridge - Useful Cases for Investigators to know to achieve Practical Justice (1.45pm – 2.15pm including questions)
2.15pm – 2.30pm / Sarah Rey (Justitia, Co-Convenor AAWI) / Report on AWI US conference
2.30pm – 2.45pm - Afternoon tea
Second Afternoon Session
Chair/Facilitator - Peter Andrewartha (McPhee Andrewartha)
2.45pm – 4.30pm / Role Players include:
Alison Budden (McPhee Andrewartha)
Peta Nowacki (Working Together)
Karen Wise (Wise Workplace Solutions) / “Practical justice for whom? An investigation that doesn't deliver”
2.45pm – 3.45pm - Hypothetical
3.45 – 4.30 Group work, discussion and questions
4.30pm / Karen Streckfuss / Conference Close

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