We are pleased to announce the return of our HR Highlights Series for 2025, providing essential insights and practical guidance for HR professionals navigating the evolving workplace landscape.

This year’s theme, Creating Safe Workplaces and Supporting Strong Workforces, focuses on equipping you with the tools needed to thrive in an evolving legal and workplace landscape. Led by our national employment and safety experts, alongside guest speakers, each session will explore key topics, including:

• Workplace safety compliance

• Physical and mental well-being

• Digital challenges and workforce resilience

As your organisation prepares for the year ahead, this series offers invaluable expertise to strengthen your workplace, empower your employees, and drive long-term success.

Click ‘Register now’ below to secure your spot. Session details will be shared closer to the date, with new topics released quarterly.

If you know anyone who may be interested in joining us, please feel free to pass on the link for them to register here.

Register now to secure your spot.

Date: February - November 2025 (held monthly)
Time: 12:30pm - 1:15pm (AEST)
Location: Online via Zoom

Wednesday 17 September | Redundancies and the Peabody High Court decision

The decision to implement redundancies can carry significant legal and operational risks, particularly in light of the recent High Court ruling in Peabody. 

Join Employment & Safety Partner, Adam Foster, as he unpacks the implications of this landmark decision for employers, including how it reshapes obligations under the Fair Work Act. Adam will explore practical steps for managing redundancy processes, ensuring HR teams are equipped to navigate these changes.

Presenter

Adam Foster
Partner | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Tuesday 14 October | Recent sexual harassment decisions

Although significant law reform has been introduced to protect employees from sexual harassment in the workplace, there is still work for employers to do.

Join Employment & Safety Special Counsel, Leanne Dearlove and Senior Associate, Karell Schmitt-Virgo, as they examine the implications of recent decisions involving allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace.

They will discuss how the courts are interpreting the new positive duty to prevent harassment, what constitutes ‘reasonable steps’ for employers, and the proactive measures organisations should be implementing now.

Presenter

Leanne Dearlove
Special Counsel | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Karell Schmitt-Virgo
Senior Associate | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Wednesday 5 November | How AI will transform workplace safety, people and culture, and the skills professionals will need to survive this transformation

AI is reshaping the way organisations approach workplace safety, people management, and organisational culture.

Join Employment & Safety Partners, Cormack Dunn and Adam Foster, as they unpack the opportunities and risks AI presents, the ethical and legal considerations for employers, and the critical skills HR and safety professionals will need to adapt and thrive in this evolving landscape.

Presenter

Cormack Dunn
Partner | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Adam Foster
Partner | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Tuesday 18 November | End of year wrap up

Throughout 2025, HR professionals have faced a landscape shaped by significant legal and regulatory change.

Join Employment & Safety Partners, Kristen Lopes and Megan Kavanagh, for an end-of-year wrap-up covering the key developments in employment and safety law over the past 12 months.

They will review major legislative reforms, landmark decisions, and emerging compliance trends, and discuss their practical implications for Australian workplaces.

Presenter

Megan Kavanagh
Partner | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Kristen Lopes
Partner | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Wednesday 19 February | Wage theft: A new year and new powers

The new wage theft criminal offence came into effect on 1 January 2025. This webinar will delve into and examine wage theft and the recent legislative changes criminalising non-compliance. Gain critical insights into the legal and operational impacts for employers and HR teams to help navigate and mitigate risks in 2025.

Presenter

Adam Foster
Partner | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Wednesday 19 March | WFH: Will flexibility hold?

Join Employment and Safety Partner, Kristen Lopes as she unpacks the recent Fair Work updates to section 65A. This webinar will focus on employer obligations when responding to flexible working arrangement requests, and provide practical guidance to ensure compliance while supporting workplace flexibility.

Presenter

Kristen Lopes
Partner | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Wednesday 30 April | The focus on physical, mental and digital safety

In this webinar, our presenters will explore strategies for fostering a safer workplace, addressing physical and mental well-being, and navigating the challenges of digital security. Gain actionable insights to support a holistic approach to employee safety and resilience.

Presenters

Cormack Dunn
Partner | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Adam Foster
Partner | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Wednesday 21 May | Post-election employment law update

Join Employment and Safety Partners, Adam Foster and Megan Kavanagh, for a post-election employment law update, unpacking key employment law changes following the Australian Federal Election on 3 May. Our legal experts will cover recent and upcoming reforms, including updates to restraint of trade clauses, pay secrecy provisions, working from home arrangements, and other workplace compliance issues. 

Presenters

Megan Kavanagh
Partner | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Adam Foster
Partner | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Tuesday 17 June | New powers of the union 

Recent changes to the industrial relations framework in Australia have expanded union powers, particularly in relation to workplace access and the issuing of formal notices. In this HR Highlights webinar, Tyrone Prisk in our Employment and Safety team will focus on the practical implications for HR professionals, providing practical guidance on how to respond to payroll inspection notices, notices to produce documents, and other union-related requests.

Presenter

Tyrone Prisk
Senior Associate | Colin Biggers & Paisley

Tuesday 22 July | What happens when the prosecutor comes knocking

The prospect of a regulatory investigation in your workplace can be daunting. Join Employment and Safety Partner, Cormack Dunn, as he walks through what to do when a regulator or prosecutor comes knocking, from responding to notices and managing interviews to handling internal investigations and protecting employee rights. With a focus on WHS incidents and workplace compliance, we will provide practical guidance to help HR teams navigate regulatory investigations.

Presenter

Cormack Dunn
Partner | Colin Biggers & Paisley