Joanna Betteridge's Legal Experience and Qualifications

Qualifications Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts (major in psychology) - Melbourne University Master of Laws - Melbourne University, completed 2001, focussing on labour relations law Admitted to practise as a barrister and solicitor April 1985 Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law (1993 - 2004) Accredited Mediator registered under the Mediation Act 1997 (ACT) (Accreditation by LEADR) AICD Company Directors Course Diploma

Experience

• More than 20 years in private legal practice;

• July 1993 to July 2004 Partner at Maddocks, Lawyers;

• Commenced specialised legal consultancy/legal practice in 2004;

• Director of BBW Mediations, a mediation business jointly conducted with Lisa Bradley, HR Consultant and Gavin Wright, Financial Planner;

• Lecturer for Monash University in its Law Faculty, post graduate level.  Joanna is lecturing in 2010 in Discrimination Law and Human Rights at Work and Occupational Health and Safety

Memberships

• Advisory Panel for the Monash University Law Faculty Master of Laws coursework program specialising in Workplace and Employment Law

• Board member and Chair of Audit Committee of Austin Health

• Vice-Chair, Board of Melbourne Citymission

• Consulting Member, Board of TEAR Australia

• Australian Labour Law Association

• Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI)

• AHRI Special Interest Group Committee on Occupational Health and Safety and Risk Management

• Industrial Relations Society of Victoria (IRSV)

• LEADR – Association of Dispute Resolvers

• Law Institute of Victoria

• Graduate member, Australian Institute of Company Directors

• Committee of Management of Mucopolysaccharide & Related Diseases Society Aust Ltd

Areas Of Legal Expertise

• Employment and independent contractor agreements including advising senior executives;

• Performance management issues;

• Bullying and harassment claims;

• Workplace Investigations and grievance hearings;

• Discrimination and sexual harassment claims;

• Termination of employment 

• Occupational health and safety including advice, training, defence of prosecutions and reviews;

• Workplace injury claims, including managing work related and non work related injury issues in an employment and discrimination context;

• Mediation and alternative dispute resolution.

Examples of Relevant Experience

• Drafted tailored OHS and HR policies and protocols, contracts, correspondence, reports;

• Advised companies and organisations on workforce management including engagement, performance management, termination, discrimination and sexual harassment, unfair dismissal and breach of contract claims;

• Conducted workplace investigations and grievance hearings into claims such as bullying and harassment complaints, misconduct and serious misconduct issues;

• Represented companies in unfair dismissal applications, sexual harassment, discrimination claims and OHS prosecutions

• Advised managers about their individual OHS liability;

• Reviewed applicable regulations and codes of practice/compliance codes;

• Conducted training sessions with large or tailored groups including information sessions on legal obligations, compliance and practical workshops;

• Extensive lecturing experience with Monash University;

• Advised companies on managing injured employees and those on WorkCover and premium issues;

• Advised senior executives on contract terms and conditions, negotiations and strategy in pre-employment discussions and in relation to the termination of contracts.

Seminars Delivered on Topics Including:

• Negotiating the Executive Contract

• Personal Criminal Liability for Workplace Safety

• Advice, Guidelines and Enforceable Undertakings

• OHS Changes and Challenges

• Is Working from Home the Way to Go?  The Legal Perspective

• OHS Inspection Issues including the privilege against self incrimination

• Disaster Planning - Your Legal Obligations under the OHS Legislation

• Restraint of Trade and Confidentiality Obligations re Termination of Senior Executives

• Managing the Risk of Smoking in the Workplace

• Employees v Contractors – the Stumbling Blocks

• Cost Effectively Managing Difficult Long Term Claimants

• Guidance Note on the Prevention of Bullying and Violence at Work

• Rehabilitation or Termination

• Navigating the WorkCover Maze

• Fitness to Work

• Safety as a Defence to Discrimination

• The competing legal obligations on employers in dealing with injured employees

• Workplace Surveillance.