Workshop A
BRISBANE: 9 SEPTEMBER
MELBOURNE: 16 SEPTEMBER
PERTH: 16 SEPTEMBER
SYDNEY: 23 SEPTEMBER
Getting terminations or contract terms wrong can expose even the most seasoned HR teams to costly claims. With recent case law reshaping the rules around probation, fixed-term contracts, casual conversion, and unfair dismissal, HR professionals need clarity on what’s enforceable, what’s fair, and what’s compliant.
This one-day workshop provides a practical, critical clause review of legal risks and obligations across the employment lifecycle. You’ll explore the common traps in terminations and contracts, grounded in Fair Work obligations and recent decisions, and sharpen your ability to assess risk, interpret critical clauses, and manage exits with confidence. From restraint clauses to redundancy processes, you’ll walk away with a tailored understanding of the main risks that could impact your workplace.
You’ll also have the chance to pressure-test your current practices, raise real workplace scenarios, and get a second opinion on complex terminations, and ongoing HR issues.
Learning Objectives:
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Apply Fair Work rulings and recent case law to manage terminations involving unfair dismissal, redundancy, adverse action, restraints of trade, and post-employment obligations
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Review how Courts have interpreted contentious clauses
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Navigate legal risks and apply best practices across probation, redundancy, notice periods, and garden leave scenarios
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Avoid missteps in employee versus contractor classifications and manage misclassification risks
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Minimise risk and clarify obligations when using fixed-term, maximum-term, and casual contracts
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Ensure termination processes are fair, defensible, and compliant
AGENDA
Registration and welcome coffee: 8:30am
Course duration: 9:00am-4:30pm, including networking breaks
8:30 Registration and Welcome Coffee
9:00 Understanding your legal foundations
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Key provisions of the Fair Work Act impacting contracts and terminations
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Contractual clauses under scrutiny and common employer pitfalls
10:30 Morning Tea
11:00 Managing lawful exits and avoiding claims
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Key risks and legal obligations in unfair dismissal, redundancy, and adverse action
Managing exits during probation – what’s fair and compliant
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Handling notice periods, summary dismissal, and garden leave compliantly
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Distinguishing resignations from terminations and meeting employer obligations
12:30 Networking Lunch
1:30 Contract clarity and case law updates
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Fixed-term, maximum-term, and casual conversion updates
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Key risks in contractor agreements and misclassification
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How to review and draft contract terms that hold up under challenge
3:00 Afternoon Tea
3:30 Reviewing contractual terms
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Restraint clauses and enforceability
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Probation and notice clauses – drafting with purpose
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Avoiding ambiguity and grey areas in contracts
4:30 Q&A and group discussion
5:00 End of Workshop
Each speaker demonstrated great depth of knowledge but kept
to the salient points for the audience. The round-table exercise was a relevant case study and the host guided us through the aspects promptly and expertly.
The breaks were the right amount of time and the close of the day succinct!
Highly recommend the experience.