The NDIS Scheme continues to be plagued with problems and changes to the Scheme. What do the latest recommendations mean for your practice? What are some of the best contract structures between housing providers and support providers, and what are the risks? What are your obligations and liabilities for workplace violence? Delve into the latest guidance and receive effective strategies for managing challenges, maintaining standards, ensuring safety, and clarifying rights and responsibilities. Examine how to ensure you are compliant and avoid legal liabilities.

Presenters

Rebecca Haynes, Senior Lawyer, Legal Academic at Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
Rebecca Haynes is a Senior Lawyer and Casual Legal Academic practicing in the areas of Education Law, Human Rights, Disability, Administrative Law and Child Protection.


Darien Nagle, Barrister, H B Higgins Chambers
Darien Nagle was called to Bar in 2007. Prior to his call he was the Associate to Justice Anna Backman in the Industrial Court of NSW from 2005 until 2007. Darien prosecutes and defends WHS matters including being involved in the long running Hunter Quarries matters. He appears in disciplinary proceedings and coronial proceedings for police officers and members of the Public Service Association. Darien also appeared in the Banking Royal Commission, Trade Union Royal Commission and several long running ICAC matters.


Tony Rutherford, Partner, DLA Piper
Tony has advised on large and complex infrastructure projects (including PPPs) in Australia, Asia, United States, Africa and the Middle East across a wide range of sectors including social and affordable housing (including specialist disability accommodation), health and hospitals, roads, rail, mining, oil & gas, water, wastewater, telecommunications and power. Tony has acted for governments, lenders, sponsors and contractors on a range of projects (including both economic and social infrastructure). This includes preparing and negotiating the full suite of project documentation including EPC, D&C, EPCM, operation and maintenance and joint venture agreements. Tony has also advised on projects and construction disputes and is well-versed in the full range of dispute resolution mechanisms. In addition to his projects and infrastructure expertise, Tony regularly advises disability organisations and technology start-ups in relation to legislative, policy and commercial issues arising under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.


Erin McCarthy, Partner, Piper Alderman
Erin McCarthy is a specialist employment partner based in Adelaide. She has fifteen years' experience in providing advice to employers and employer associations on all aspects of occupational health and safety, employment and industrial relations law as well as delivering essential information seminars and training workshops on key employment issues. Erin has experience providing advice in relation to performance management, misconduct investigations and unfair dismissal claims, bullying, discrimination and harassment matters and occupational health and safety issues including support clients during investigations, defending prosecutions and risk management and policy development. Erin is a co-, author with Professor Andrew Stewart and Elise Jenkin of Parental Leave: A User Friendly Guide published by Thomson Reuters. The book examines the practical interaction between various leave entitlements as well as managing pregnant employees in the workplace and return to work from parental leave. As a part of the Piper Alderman Employment Relations national team, Erin advises clients in all states and territories in Australia. In 2015 she was once again listed in the peer-selected "Best Lawyers, Australia" in the practice area of Labour and Employment.


Belinda Epstein, Barrister, Maurice Byers Chambers
Belinda was called to the Bar in May 2017. Her core expertise is in civil litigation, with a particular interest in common law matters, acting on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants. She has significant legal experience in medical negligence and has also represented clients in health-related matters such as superannuation and total and permanent disability claims, as well as coronial inquests and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Belinda has also practiced as in-house counsel at a NSW State-owned Corporation, worked as a solicitor in national practices in Sydney and Newcastle and lectured and tutored at the University of Newcastle. She has been published in the Lexis Nexis Australian Health Law Bulletin (of which she is also on the Editorial Board) and has presented at national conferences. Since going to the Bar, Belinda has also practiced in Family Law (including as ICL) and NCAT, including in commercial and guardianship matters. She is on the Legal Aid Mental Health Advocacy Panel. She participates in regular meetings of the University of Newcastle’s Clinical Unit in Ethics and Health Law and is the legal member of the University of Newcastle’s Human Research Ethics Committee. Belinda is available to advise and appear matters in Newcastle, Sydney and regional New South Wales.