Be guided through a practical, skills-focused roadmap for decision-makers navigating the complexities of administrative law. Across interactive sessions, you will explore how to make sound administrative decisions, understand the sources and limits of their authority and apply principles of bias and natural justice to ensure fairness and transparency. Uncover best practice for writing defensible decisions with guidance on clarity, logic and common drafting pitfalls, supported by model templates and checklists. Gain insights into judicial review and accountability, examining key grounds for challenge, standards of review and lessons from recent high-profile cases, Equip yourself with the tools to make legally robust, transparent and defensible decisions in any administrative context.

Presenters

Claire Alexander, Senior Associate, Russel Kennedy
Claire acts on behalf of various government clients and statutory authorities. Claire specialises in professional conduct, regulatory compliance and administrative review proceedings. Claire brings significant government experience to her role, having worked within the Department of Justice and Community Safety and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. Most recently, Claire co-managed the legal team at the Judicial Commission of Victoria. Claire also acts in migration and refugee law matters as part of Russell Kennedy’s Pro Bono Practice.

Catharine Thorpe, Barrister, List G Barristers
Catharine has a broad public law practice, conducting litigation and advising on public and administrative law, including on constitutional law, statutory interpretation, administrative decision-making and judicial review, human rights and anti-discrimination law, public administration and governance, commissions of enquiry, and privacy and data protection. She frequently advises on complex and novel legal questions with the potential to affect multiple Departments, or that raise State-wide issues or interests, including those arising in urgent circumstances, such as in relation to issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Catharine is a Principal Solicitor in the Constitution and Advice team in the Public Law and Planning branch at VGSO, and was formerly Senior Legal Adviser in the Public Law and Litigation team at the Department of Justice and Community Safety, Senior Associate in the Government Advisory (Public Law) team at Maddocks, and Senior Associate to the Honourable Justice Stephen McLeish at the Victorian Court of Appeal. Catharine began her practising career in corporate transactional law at the top-ranked New York law firm, Davis Polk & Wardwell, and, prior to being admitted in Victoria, spent some years researching and drafting bench books for the Judicial College of Victoria, primarily on the Charter and human rights law.

Georgina Rhodes, Barrister, Ah Ket Chambers
Georgina practices in public and administrative law, regulatory law, quasi-criminal and criminal law. She acts for government (State and Commonwealth) and private clients in various matters, including occupational health and safety, crimes mental impairment, disciplinary and professional standards, worker screening, disability, child protection, criminal charges, intervention orders, and inquests and inquiries. Georgina provides advice to Government Departments and Statutory Authorities in relation to statutory interpretation, legislative reform, information sharing, subpoenas and integrity matters. Georgina is currently involved in the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government's Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings, as one of the Counsel Assisting Team led by Ms Elizabeth Bennett S.C.

Kylie Walsh, Principal, Russell Kennedy
Kylie is the Principal with Russell Kennedy Lawyers and is a litigation lawyer with over 10 years’ experience. Kylie acts on behalf of various government clients and statutory authorities and specialises in prosecution, enforcement, disciplinary and administrative review proceedings.

Nilanka Goonetillake, Barrister, Aickin Chambers
Nilanka is a commercial and public law barrister with a specialty in employment and discrimination. Nilanka practices in a broad range of commercial disputes including insolvency, contract disputes and consumer claims. Nilanka’s employment law practice includes general protections claims, underpayments and civil penalty provisions under the Fair Work Act. Nilanka’s public law practice includes claims concerning statutory interpretation, judicial reviews and anti-discrimination legislation. Since coming to the Bar, Nilanka has practised in a range of commercial and public law matters.