Monday, 29 September 2025
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the legal obligations around bullying and discrimination in NZ schools
- Learn best practices for responding to complaints and protecting student rights
Description
Attend and earn 0.5 PLD hour
* This interactive online recording includes questions and quizzes requiring critical thinking about the topics, so you have no annual limits to the number of points/hours you can claim with this format of learning. Please verify with your CPD rules
*Original Content was created in June 2024
Chair
Dr Alison Burke, Head of Counselling, Westlake Girls High School
Student Bullying and Discrimination Legalities Guidance Counsellors Need to Know
- Understanding the legal framework for bullying and discrimination in schools
- Practical considerations when a bullying/discrimination complaint is received
- Navigating privacy pitfalls and students’ rights
- Best practice for schools to minimise discrimination and bullying
Presented by Joseph Williams, Senior Associate, Duncan Cotterill
Presenters
Joseph Williams, Senior Associate, Duncan CotterillJoe has extensive experience advising on all facets of employment and health & safety law. He prides himself on understanding the unique needs of his clients and providing tailored and effective advice and assistance. Joe regularly assists employer and employee clients to navigate difficult workplace issues, including disciplinary investigations, performance management, restructuring and personal grievances.
Dr Alison Burke, Head of Counselling, Westlake Girls High School
Alison completed her training at Auckland University, graduating with a Master’s in Education (Counselling specialisation) with First class Honours. She then went on to complete a PhD at Auckland University, researching the lived experiences of male victims of intimate partner violence in heterosexual relationships. Alison has had articles published in academic peer reviewed journals both in New Zealand and overseas. Alison has worked with young people firstly as a secondary school teacher and then as a counsellor and facilitator both in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty. She is currently Head of Counselling with a counselling role at a large secondary school on Auckland’s North Shore. Alison was involved in a research project with two other counsellors and counsellor educators from Waikato University that focused on counselling as a site of learning with particular reference to key competency use and development within the counselling space. Conference joint keynote presentation, workshops and published journal articles resulted from this research. Alison has also had personal articles published and been a reviewer for articles submitted for publication in peer reviewed academic journals both within New Zealand and overseas. Alison has been a fully accredited member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) since 2007. She adheres to the principles of the NZAC Code of Ethics and is committed to on-going professional development, reading and supervision to ensure best practice.
