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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.


Betteridge Legal Consulting, Ph: 0419 763 396 Fax: 03 9499 8202 Email: joanna@betteridgeconsulting.com.au  © 2009 Betteridge Legal Consulting