Empower your leadership team by attending our School Law Webinar Series, crafted specifically for school leaders navigating today’s complex legal landscape. This engaging series offers practical guidance on key legal issues affecting school operations—from student and parent rights and parenting orders, to workplace investigations and procedures for return to work after injury. Gain practical strategies for assessing risk associated with school sport and consider the reasonable steps that you need to take to keep your students and your school safe. Led by top education law experts, each session delivers actionable insights to help principals make informed decisions and stay ahead of legal changes. Flexible online access ensures you can learn on your schedule while earning professional development credits. Make it easy & save by registering for the full series or just the sessions that interest you. Watch each session live online or as an on-demand recording.
Description
Teachers attending the entire series earn 5 Professional Development Hours (NSW, VIC) / CPD Points (QLD, WA, SA)
Lawyers attending the entire series earn 5 CPD units in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
If you register for the full series as a live online product after the date of an individual session, you will be sent the recording for the sessions that have passed. Alternatively, you can register for individual sessions by following the links below.
Workplace Investigations in a School Setting
Tuesday, 26 August 2025
When workplace issues arise, swift and informed action is essential. This session empowers school leaders to confidently navigate every stage of a workplace investigation—from determining the need for one, to selecting the right investigator, and ensuring a fair, compliant process. You’ll gain practical strategies for communicating outcomes and taking the right steps post-investigation. Tailored specifically for the school environment, this session delivers clear, actionable insights to help you handle sensitive matters with confidence and care.
Chair:
Dr Steven Middleton, Associate Principal, St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
Description
For Teachers: Attend and earn 1 Professional Development Hour (NSW, VIC) / CPD Point (QLD, WA, SA)
For Lawyers: Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
1.00pm to 2.00pm Master the Art of Workplace Investigations in Schools
- The first decision: when is an investigation needed (or not needed)?
- Who should investigate: in-house or external?
- The investigation process: getting the basics right
- Finalising the investigation: communicating the outcome
- Now the investigation is done, what happens next?
Presented by Rochelle Airey, Special Counsel, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
Presenters
Dr Steven Middleton, Associate Principal, St Margaret’s Berwick GrammarDr Steven Middleton is an accomplished educational leader with close to 30 years of experience across several leading Independent Schools. Holding a Doctorate in Education from The University of Melbourne, Dr Middleton has a profound commitment to enhancing student and staff well being, promoting academic excellence, and fostering community engagement. As Associate Principal at St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar, Dr Middleton has been instrumental in leading strategic initiatives that have significantly improved academic results and school culture. Dr Middleton’s leadership style is marked by strategic vision, educational innovation, and a genuine commitment to developing inclusive, supportive school environments. His extensive experience and research focus on leadership and character education make him a respected figure in the educational community. Dr Middleton has both a professional and personal interest in legal matters to pertaining to schools.
Rochelle Airey, Special Counsel, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
Rochelle Airey is a Special Counsel in the Workplace Relations and Safety team in the Perth office of HWL Ebsworth. Rochelle was admitted to practice in 2009 and, for the past 5 years, has worked primarily in employment law and industrial relations. Rochelle has worked for a range of clients across various sectors, including education, construction, engineering, transport, health, local government and disability services. Prior to being admitted as a lawyer, Rochelle had 18 years of experience as a secondary school teacher, working in metropolitan and regional schools. Rochelle's experience as a classroom teacher and school administrator gives her insight into the particular issues facing the education sector. Rochelle's practice focuses on advising employers about all stages of the employment relationship, including contracts of employment, policies, performance management, redundancies, termination of employment, post-employment restraints and employment litigation.
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When Teacher Performance and Conduct Becomes Intwined with Workers’ Compensation
Tuesday, 16 September 2025
As psychological pressures on teachers increase, so too does the complexity of managing performance, conduct, and workers’ compensation claims. This session explores how schools can distinguish genuine injury from performance-related issues, respond to complex scenarios, and build strong defences. It also examines key legal intersections, recent and proposed legislative changes across states, and practical strategies for reducing risk and liability.
Chair:
Dr Steven Middleton, Associate Principal, St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
Description
For Teachers: Attend and earn 1 Professional Development Hour (NSW, VIC) / CPD Point (QLD, WA, SA)
For Lawyers: Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
1.00pm to 2.00pm When Teacher Performance and Conduct Becomes Intwined with Workers’ Compensation
The interaction between performance/conduct and workers’ compensation is becoming increasingly complex. Children with higher need for support in their education, parental advocacy and child safety along with diminishing resources creates psychological stressors for teachers and impacts their performance and conduct. How can you dissect performance and conduct issues from the heightened pressure of teaching and how can you manage and prevent workers’ compensation claims?
- Develop several common but complex scenarios in schools and work through the legal and practical management process
- Make clear the various defences for rejecting and terminating claims and the essential structure and evidence needed to succeed
- Explain the cross over of the new Safety law around psychological hazards and workers’ compensation legislation
- Look at Victoria’s changes, NSW suggested changes and see what other state will likely do to rein in scheme debt (and how risk based states and territories) manage premium to address the risks
Presented by Andrew Douglas, Managing Director FCW Lawyers
Presenters
Dr Steven Middleton, Associate Principal, St Margaret’s Berwick GrammarDr Steven Middleton is an accomplished educational leader with close to 30 years of experience across several leading Independent Schools. Holding a Doctorate in Education from The University of Melbourne, Dr Middleton has a profound commitment to enhancing student and staff well being, promoting academic excellence, and fostering community engagement. As Associate Principal at St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar, Dr Middleton has been instrumental in leading strategic initiatives that have significantly improved academic results and school culture. Dr Middleton’s leadership style is marked by strategic vision, educational innovation, and a genuine commitment to developing inclusive, supportive school environments. His extensive experience and research focus on leadership and character education make him a respected figure in the educational community. Dr Middleton has both a professional and personal interest in legal matters to pertaining to schools.
Andrew Douglas, Managing Director, FCW Lawyers
Andrew Douglas is the Managing Director of FCW Lawyers – a workplace and commercial law firm based in Australia. Andrew is a leading senior legal practitioner with more than 30 years’ experience working with publicly listed businesses, companies, and substantial SMEs across a range of industries including manufacturing, agriculture, construction, government, NFP, education, health, and financial services. Andrew practices a range of workplace law, including employment, health and safety, workers’ compensation, dispute resolution, privacy, and investigations. Andrew is an accomplished speaker and chair of masterclasses in workplace law throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. He has also authored several books on health and safety law and is a widely published legal practitioner on workplace wellbeing. Every Friday, Andrew co-hosts the Friday Workplace Briefing with members of the Workplace Relations team, informing a growing audience of senior HR professionals and business leaders on the latest legal news and developments impacting their organisations. Andrew is renowned for his leadership effectiveness, and commitment to his staff, their development and future. Prior to establishing FCW Lawyers in 2018, Andrew led large teams for several national law firms in the roles of National Head of Workplace Relations and Head of Dispute Resolution. He left ‘big law’ to build a firm that sees the world through ‘client eyes’, and cultivates a work environment of excellence, equality, flexibility and compassion.
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Student Discipline Framework for Students and Parents
Tuesday, 14 October 2025
In today’s school environment, where challenging behaviour from both students and parents is on the rise, it’s more important than ever to ensure your discipline framework is robust, legally sound, and practically effective. In this session you will explore the critical elements of student discipline plus potential issues with parents, to equip yourself and your school with the knowledge and tools to act decisively and lawfully to protect staff and students.
Chair:
Dr Steven Middleton, Associate Principal, St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
Description
For Teachers: Attend and earn 1 Professional Development Hour (NSW, VIC) / CPD Point (QLD, WA, SA)
For Lawyers: Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
1.00pm to 2.00pm Student Discipline Framework for Students and Parents
In an environment of increasingly hostile and poor behaviour on the part of students and parents, ensure your whole discipline framework is legally sound and equips you to act when you need to and enables you to protect staff and students. We will cover:
- Role of enrolment contracts
- Student codes of conduct
- Powers to seize devices
- Power to suspend or expel student for behaviour outside school hours or online
- Behaviour management, procedural fairness & traps with restorative process
- When to use trespass notices, safety orders and IVOs/AVOs
Presented by Cecelia Irvine-So, Practice Leader and Head of Education Team, Moores
Presenters
Dr Steven Middleton, Associate Principal, St Margaret’s Berwick GrammarDr Steven Middleton is an accomplished educational leader with close to 30 years of experience across several leading Independent Schools. Holding a Doctorate in Education from The University of Melbourne, Dr Middleton has a profound commitment to enhancing student and staff well being, promoting academic excellence, and fostering community engagement. As Associate Principal at St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar, Dr Middleton has been instrumental in leading strategic initiatives that have significantly improved academic results and school culture. Dr Middleton’s leadership style is marked by strategic vision, educational innovation, and a genuine commitment to developing inclusive, supportive school environments. His extensive experience and research focus on leadership and character education make him a respected figure in the educational community. Dr Middleton has both a professional and personal interest in legal matters to pertaining to schools.
Cecelia Irvine-So, Practice Leader and Head of Education Team, Moores
Cecelia is a Practice Leader in the Corporate Advisory team and heads the Education team at Moores. Cecelia is a commercial lawyer specialising in education law, education governance, privacy and regulatory compliance. Cecelia is the first port of call for a significant number of independent and Catholic schools, education providers, kindergarten cluster managers and K-12 education management and peak bodies. Cecelia has developed a reputation for successfully assisting education bodies and schools which are facing regulator intervention due to critical events or funding and compliance issues, including CRICOS, VRQA, Dept of Education, NESA, TEQSA and ASQA. As one of only a handful of dedicated education lawyers, she is in demand from industry bodies seeking her expertise for speaking engagements and training, and contributions to boards and advisory groups. In addition to regulation, Cecelia assists education clients with student and parent relations, enrolment and admission, behavior and discipline and Board governance. Cecelia also has a special interest in regulatory compliance across the board for Not for Profits, with a particular emphasis on privacy and information. In her role as a leader at Moores, Cecelia has represented the firm in corporate fundraising. Cecelia’s demeanour is always professional, but with the slightest edge of quirky humour which makes Cecelia an engaging advisor and public speaker.
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What is the Scope of a School's Duty of Care During Sporting Events?
Tuesday, 28 October 2025
The NSW Court of Appeal has recently clarified the extent of a school’s duty of care during sporting activities. While risk is an inherent part of sport, schools remain responsible for taking reasonable precautions to prevent injury. This session explores the practical implications of the 16 June 2025 decision and what schools must now consider to meet their legal obligations.
Description
For Teachers: Attend and earn 1 Professional Development Hour (NSW, VIC) / CPD Point (QLD, WA, SA)
For Lawyers: Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Chair:
Dr Steven Middleton, Associate Principal, St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
1.00pm to 2.00pm What is the Scope of a School's Duty of Care During Sporting Events?
- On 16 June 2025, the NSW Court of Appeal provided clarity with respect to the duty of care owed by schools during sporting events.
- Although some degree of risk is inherent in sporting events, the court has made it clear that schools have a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent harm from occurring.
- We will examine what this means for schools on a practical level in light of this court of appeal decision.
Presented by Kristen Lopes, Partner - Employment and Safety Law, Colin Biggers & Paisley Lawyers
Presenters
Dr Steven Middleton, Associate Principal, St Margaret’s Berwick GrammarDr Steven Middleton is an accomplished educational leader with close to 30 years of experience across several leading Independent Schools. Holding a Doctorate in Education from The University of Melbourne, Dr Middleton has a profound commitment to enhancing student and staff well being, promoting academic excellence, and fostering community engagement. As Associate Principal at St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar, Dr Middleton has been instrumental in leading strategic initiatives that have significantly improved academic results and school culture. Dr Middleton’s leadership style is marked by strategic vision, educational innovation, and a genuine commitment to developing inclusive, supportive school environments. His extensive experience and research focus on leadership and character education make him a respected figure in the educational community. Dr Middleton has both a professional and personal interest in legal matters to pertaining to schools.
Kristen Lopes, Partner - Employment and Safety Law, Colin Biggers & Paisley Lawyers
Kristen Lopes is a partner in the Employment and Safety Team with in excess of 25 years' handling employment litigation in the courts and tribunals. Kristen regularly provides advice to independent schools, universities, TAFES and childcare centres in the state of NSW. Kristen advises on a broad range of matters including interpretation of enterprise agreements, modern award obligations, managing staff and student conduct issues and conducting investigations into staff and student complaints. Kristen regularly acts on behalf of independent schools in proceedings before the courts and tribunals in proceedings involving unfair dismissal applications, general protection claims, discrimination, bullying complaints and underpayment claims. Examples include: responding to a student disability discrimination complaint in the AHRC; defending an independent contractor vs employee claim in the Federal Court; defending general protection claims in the FCAFC arising from dismissals; and defending unfair dismissal and stop bullying applications in the FWC. Kristen also has extensive experience speaking at CBP's internal Education Spotlight seminar series, and external conferences including: School Law conferences, co-ordinated by Television Education Network, LawSense, Legalwise and ANZELA. In May 2010 Kristen received her master of laws degree with first class honours from the University of Sydney specialising in comparative employment law. She obtained the prize in advanced employment law in 2007 and was a finalist in the 2008 McCallum Medal Presentation competition where she presented on workplace bullying. Kristen was called to the bar in Ontario Canada in 1995 and practised employment law as a partner in one of Canada's leading law firms until she relocated to Australia. She was admitted as a solicitor in NSW in 2006.
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Parenting Orders: What are They, What Can They Address and What Do You Need to Know?
Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Join this session to unpack the role and reach of Parenting Orders in the Australian legal system, with a particular focus on their implications for schools. Gain clarity on your role and responsibilities when working with families subject to Parenting Orders and learn how to support children effectively while complying with legal requirements.
Chair:
Dr Steven Middleton, Associate Principal, St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
1.00pm to 2.00pm Parenting Orders: What are They, What Can They Address and What Do You Need to Know?
- What are parenting Orders and do they bind schools?
- What types of parenting issues are included in Orders?
- How might schools be affected by Orders?
- Suggested best practice guidelines and practical examples
Presented by Craig Turvey, Special Counsel, Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers
Description
For Teachers: Attend and earn 1 Professional Development Hour (NSW, VIC) / CPD Point (QLD, WA, SA)
For Lawyers: Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Presenters
Dr Steven Middleton, Associate Principal, St Margaret’s Berwick GrammarDr Steven Middleton is an accomplished educational leader with close to 30 years of experience across several leading Independent Schools. Holding a Doctorate in Education from The University of Melbourne, Dr Middleton has a profound commitment to enhancing student and staff well being, promoting academic excellence, and fostering community engagement. As Associate Principal at St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar, Dr Middleton has been instrumental in leading strategic initiatives that have significantly improved academic results and school culture. Dr Middleton’s leadership style is marked by strategic vision, educational innovation, and a genuine commitment to developing inclusive, supportive school environments. His extensive experience and research focus on leadership and character education make him a respected figure in the educational community. Dr Middleton has both a professional and personal interest in legal matters to pertaining to schools.
Craig Turvey, Special Counsel, Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers
Craig advises clients in complex property settlement matters involving trusts and corporate entities across multiple jurisdictions. He regularly prepares binding financial agreements and other documents to formalise property settlements for his clients and he has a strong commercial focus. Craig has considerable experience in children’s matters and has represented clients in the Magellan List, which involves the most serious child abuse cases. While he prefers, if possible, to resolve matters by negotiation, Craig regularly appears in contested proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court to protect his clients’ interests. Craig has previously been recognised as a Family Law Rising Star in the Doyles Guide to the Australian Legal Profession, and as a leading author in the Lexology Legal Influencers list.
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