As a counsellor and educator you must be fully able to navigate your legal liabilities to ensure you always respond appropriately to student welfare concerns, family law disputes and privacy obligations—protecting both students and yourselves from legal risk.  The School Counsellors’ Legal Risk Forum A is a must-attend for school counsellors, wellbeing staff and education leaders committed to safeguarding students while meeting legal responsibilities. Join legal and education experts to be guided through the complex legal landscape surrounding student welfare. From responding to child abuse disclosures and managing privacy obligations to navigating family law disputes and external placements, gain practical insights to act confidently and remain compliant.   

Presenters

Kate Rafton, Managing Partner, Accredited Family Law Specialist, Accredited Children’s Law Specialist
Kate has focussed on the field of family law since her admission as a solicitor, and has worked for law firms in both Penrith and Parramatta over her 20 year career. Before establishing her own practice in 2007, Kate was a Partner with a well-known family law firm in the region and gained significant experience dealing with the full range of family-law issues. In 2007 Kate became a NSW Law Society accredited specialist in family law. In 2009 she also became an accredited specialist in children’s law. Kate has extensive experience in complex family law matters both at first instance and appellate court hearings. She has completed AIFLAM training and is an accredited mediator and arbitrator. Kate was also a founding member of the Western Sydney Collaborative Lawyers group. Rafton Family Lawyers is now one of the largest specialised family law firms in Western Sydney with a reputation for the provision of expert legal services in family law. The firm has been named in Doyle’s guide for mediation services and under the rising star category for wills and estates in recent years. In addition to her legal qualifications, Kate also has a nursing degree, a Masters in Critical Care and Trauma and a background in health management. Throughout her legal career she has maintained a strong association with the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health Service and her experience dealing with patients in crisis gives her a deeper insight into dealing with the trauma and emotion of family breakdown.

Emily Slaytor, Special Counsel, Piper Alderman
Emily joined Piper Alderman as a Special Counsel in 2021, after having relocated to Adelaide from Sydney where she worked for a specialist employment law firm.She has around 10 years’ experience practicing as an employment and industrial relations lawyer, assisting and advising employers on how to manage their legal obligations and risks, and navigate employment-related issues.Emily has acted for a diverse range of employers across both the private and public sector, at a national level. She has conducted numerous investigations for clients in relation to bullying and harassment matters and internal employment disputes, and regularly assists clients in the areas of managing long and short term injured workers, difficult workers compensation claims, performance management and disciplinary issues, discrimination and harassment, as well as unfair dismissal and general protections claims.

Stephanie McLuckie, Senior Associate, Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers
Stephanie assists clients in the not-for-profit space, practising in the areas of education law, commercial law and employment law. She acts for many independent schools, not-for-profit organisations and charities across a broad range of matters. Stephanie is particularly experienced in advising her independent and religious school clients regarding related party transactions and compliance with the not-for-profit obligations under the State and Commonwealth Education Acts. She often assists schools with registration matters and dealing with regulators. Stephanie regularly assists with the incorporation and registration of new charities, with a focus on governance matters and meeting compliance obligations. She also has experience in large and small property transactions, transfers of land and business, licences and leasing. As an advocate for the value of higher education, Stephanie worked as a tutor in the Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) program, which aims to increase access to tertiary education for disadvantaged high school students.

Rebecca Dahl, Partner, Nicholes Family Lawyers
Bec is a seasoned family law expert and Partner at Nicholes Family Lawyers. Bec assists clients to achieve outcomes that work (practically, emotionally, financially) - across the full breadth of family law services. Bec is dedicated to: Helping the LGBTQI+ community navigate donor agreements, parenting disputes, property agreements and disputes, donor / surrogacy arrangements; Helping women before and after separation/divorce so they can live the best life they can – and to move onwards and upwards with confidence!; Helping grandparents build and maintain valuable and life changing connections with their grandchildren – wherever they are; Achieving outcomes that contain costs and risk, reduce anxiety and long-term damage; Representing clients on issues across the lifespan of a relationship: from binding financial agreements (BFAs) (or ‘’pre nups’’) to marriage to separation/divorce and spousal maintenance to child support. Bec approaches all her matters with a human, caring approach and with an understanding that reflects the complexity and anxiety that is often associated with family law issues. Clients rely on Bec for her compassionate yet robust approach in looking after their needs. She is trained as a Collaborative Practitioner and works hard to avoid costly and upsetting litigation unless it is needed.

Rebecca Haynes, Senior Lawyer and Casual Legal Academic, 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.

Cav. Maria Saraceni, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Maria Saraceni is a barrister practising in regulatory and compliance law - particularly in workplace relations; employment-related matters and occupational safety and health. She is also an active non-executive director an accomplished public speaker and an Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University.

Brett Hogan, Senior Associate, Safe Space Legal
Brett is a Senior Associate at Safe Space Legal with over 25 years of experience working with children, young people and people with disability. He is passionate about protecting the rights and ensuring the safety of children and vulnerable people. Brett is a highly skilled and experienced lawyer having worked in child protection, youth law and safeguarding, where he has advocated to protect children and young people. In addition to being a seasoned lawyer, Brett’s previous experience as a social worker and in the disability sector gives him a unique understanding of the risks and challenges faced by children and vulnerable people. Brett’s legal training and experience in the legal and disability sector, make him uniquely qualified to conduct trauma-informed investigations in relation to abuse and misconduct. He is committed to conducting fair and impartial investigations that will protect the rights of all involved. Brett strives to support organisations to provide best practice safeguarding to keep children and vulnerable people safe in a calm and thoughtful manner.

Rebekah Dorter, Principal & Nationally Accredited Mediator, Dorter Family Lawyers and Mediators
Rebekah is a highly respected and sought-after family lawyer in Sydney. Her 30-year track record of integrity, technical knowledge and negotiation skills make the difference in achieving a successful resolution. Rebekah has extensive experience in matters concerning family violence and in particular parental alienation, which requires expert advice to navigate. Rebekah is a practising Independent Children’s Lawyer and as a psychology graduate and Nationally Accredited Mediator, Rebekah provides the acute conflict management expertise necessary to resolve cases outside of the courtroom.