24 March 2026, Melbourne
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
Shae McCartney, 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
Dimity Leahy, Special Counsel, 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
Amelia Macknay, Director – Health and Safety Legal, and Alana Ziebell, Director – Enforcement Legal, WorkSafe Victoria
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
Anna Ly, Senior Associate, 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
Dean Stone, Senior Safe and Well Business Partner – Psychosocial Risk, Yarra Valley 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