21 April 2026, Canberra
8.30 Registration
9.00 Opening Remarks from the Chair
9.10 Implementing workplace psychosocial legislation in practice
- Defining and measuring workplace psychosocial risks and hazards
- Integrating psychosocial laws into business functions and frameworks
- Ensuring your psychosocial wellbeing framework meets compliance obligations
- Exploring case law, points of intervention and outcomes of psychosocial claims
Catherine Dunlop, Partner, Maddocks
9.55 Collaborating across business functions in upholding WHS laws
- Clarifying roles and responsibilities in integrating emergent WHS laws
- Working effectively across HR, safety, and risk functions
- Supporting leaders to actively engage with their WHS roles and culpabilities
- Creating shared ownership for safe practices across business functions
Hilary Searing, Partner, Clayton Utz
10.40 Morning Coffee
11.10 Conducting effective WHS investigations in line with evolving regulations
- Establishing legal professional privilege for protection at the outset of investigations
- Gathering and maintaining evidence to ensure its admissibility per legal standards
- Exploring techniques in investigating and substantiating psychosocial incidents
- Identifying continuous improvement opportunities resulting from WHS investigations
Ronan Boothman, Partner, Corrs Chamber Westgarth
11.55 Striking the right balance of compliance and culture in meeting WHS obligations
- Supporting WHS compliance through clear and accessible workplace policies and frameworks
- Leveraging existing safety frameworks to strengthen new compliance initiatives
- Developing programs which seamlessly integrate good workplace culture with WHS laws
- Negotiating effective compliance practices with regulators
Andrew Douglas, Managing Principal, FCW Lawyers
12.40 Lunch
13.40 Working with regulators productively to improve WHS outcomes
- Understanding current projects and priorities for WHS regulators in your jurisdiction
- Responding effectively to improvement notices and investigation outcomes
- Collaborating with regulators to reach positive outcomes in audits and investigations
- Seeking advice, resources and guidance provided by your state’s regulatory body
Penny Cheong, Deputy WHS Commissioner, Worksafe ACT
14.25 Understanding compliance obligations in managing workplace bullying and harassment
- Integrating legal definitions into workplace frameworks for managing bullying and harassment
- Clarifying duties for HR and WHS functions and where incidents warrant escalation
- Communicating clear and consistent information to staff about bullying and harassment
- Investigating and substantiating bullying and harassment claims in line with legal standards
Laura Sowden, Partner, Mills Oakley
15.10 Afternoon Tea
15.40 Operationalising psychosocial laws to support wellbeing in the workplace – case study
- Exploring novel psychosocial wellbeing programs targeting key risks and hazards
- Demonstrating strong leadership and developing clear goals for your wellbeing program
- Designing psychosocial initiatives to be proactive and preventative
- Achieving enthusiastic buy-in for psychosocial wellbeing initiatives
Jessica Reynolds, A/g Assistant Secretary, People Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment, and Water
16.25 Meeting WHS law obligations in contractor and third-party working relationships
- Understanding legal obligations in managing contractors
- Balancing contractor management with WHS compliance expectations
- Strengthening contractor accountability to manage risks specific to their expertise
- Measuring and monitoring contractor compliance with WHS obligations
Luisa Gonzaga, Principal, Madgwicks Lawyers
17.10 Closing Remarks from the Chair
17.15 End of Congress